The Roaring Fork School District Board of Education unanimously approved its 2025-26 budget during a special meeting Wednesday held via Zoom — a milestone that follows months of careful planning and financial review.

“I really appreciate the commitment and dedication from our team, it’s a great practice we have moved into,” board president Jasmin Ramirez said. “I look forward to the work that we will continue to do with our budget and I know that we will strive to have this done by our last regular board meeting in the coming years.”

The approved budget includes more than $210 million in appropriations, covering everything from staff salaries and classroom supplies to housing, food services, professional services and capital reserves.

A detailed, publicly available letter of more than 20 pages accompanied the budget, offering a transparent breakdown of how the money will be spent and why.

Nearly $88 million is allocated for salaries and benefits. Another $8 million will go toward supplies, $2 million for property services, and $6 million for professional services.

Total revenues are projected at just over $130 million, with 81% coming from local sources — primarily property taxes — 15% from the state, and 3% from the federal government.

The district plans to spend more than it brings in this year, drawing about $5 million from its fund balance to close the gap. After that, reserves are expected to remain at approximately $75 million.

According to the letter, the district’s funded pupil count is just over 5,500 students, equating to about $12,000 per student and $71 million in total program funding.

“I wanted to commend Dr. Cole and Christy (Chicoine) for putting together such a helpful letter along with the budget document,” board member Betsy After said. “It gave us a fulsome summary of the situation that we have found ourselves in, and the masterclass that this team put together in fixing the errors they could while still staying conservative and realistic about the ones we will face in the future.”

The vote also capped Chief Financial Officer Christy Chicoine’s first year in the role. Over the past 12 months, she helped guide the district through two supplemental budgets — one in September and another in February — while working to stabilize long-term finances.

“Between 2023-24 and 2025-26, the District resolved approximately $18 million in total shortfalls over those three years,” the letter states.

Board members said they felt more confident approving this year’s budget compared with previous years, citing the transparency and collaboration involved throughout the process.

“I wanted to thank the team for the way they have crossed T’s and dotted the I’s,” board member Kenny Teitler said. “I feel more confident this time passing a budget in which everything is included compared to years previous.”

Ramirez echoed Teitler’s sentiment and emphasized the value of the experience gained over the past year.

“I think this was a really good spot for all of us to get on the same foot moving forward,” she said. “I think we all feel like we’re in a better place. I really appreciate the year we’ve had, because I think it has been a great learning opportunity for all of us to get a better understanding of our budget.”