Mid-Del School Board approves budget amid economic uncertainty, federal funding concerns
Jacqueline Woodard, chief financial officer for Mid-Del Schools, presents the budget during a June 9 meeting. photo by Jeff Harrison
By Jeff Harrison
Midwest City Beacon
It was a familiar story during Mid-Del School District’s budget hearing.
Chief Financial Officer Jacqueline Woodard told the board of education that Mid-Del, like many others across Oklahoma, continues to grapple with the aftershocks of the COVID-19 pandemic and an evolving financial landscape.
“I’m starting to sound like a broken record,” she said during the June 9 school board meeting. “Schools have not reached a new normal since the pandemic.”
The Mid-Del School Board approved its Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, totaling about $165.4 million. It marks an increase of about $5 million compared to the projected spending for FY2025.
The budget consists of multiple funds including the general fund, co-op technology fund, building fund, child nutrition, and sinking fund.
While the general fund’s fund balance has begun to stabilize to pre-COVID level, factors affecting the budget are “anything but normal,” Woodard said. A combination of economic uncertainty, declining enrollment and state aid has put a strain on the upcoming budget.
The district’s general fund, the largest component of the budget, is set at $119.7 million, a slight increase from the previous year. However, the projected fund balance is expected to drop from $19.4 million (16.74%) in FY25 to $8.6 million (7.9%) in FY26.
This decline reflects the end of COVID-era federal relief programs and a strategic shift of expenditures previously covered by federal funds back into the general fund.
“It’s a shock to see a steep decline in the fund balance from last going into FY26, but these are normal pre-COVID levels that we’re used to seeing and excepted,” Woodard said.
Personnel costs are driving much of the increase, with the inclusion of step raises, negotiated salary changes, and the addition of mental health and special education positions. The district also plans to fund a new Safety Compliance
Officer and expand year-round administrative coverage at high schools.
Declining enrollment continues to pressure the district’s state aid allocations, which are expected to decrease by $2.3 million. The state legislature added $25 million into the state funding formula, but it was not enough to offset overall enrollment losses.
Further complicating the budget is the federal funding cliff, as COVID-era relief programs sunset. Mid-Del shifted about $3.4 million of previously federally funded expenses into the general and building funds for FY2025. The remaining $1.5 million of recuring expenses for software maintenance agreements is being absorbed by the bond funds in FY2026.
Woodard warned of potential future disruptions, referencing recent political proposals to eliminate the U.S. Department of Education and Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters’ controversial request to receive federal funds directly. Woodard said they have been advised to prepare for flat allocations.
Despite these challenges, the district has retained its AA credit rating from Moody’s for over five years. The May 2025 credit opinion cited “good budget management and sound policy effectiveness, Woodard noted in a budget memo.
Other budget highlights:
CO-OP Technology Center Fund: Budgeted at $10 million, with additional staff and a $1,500 retention bonus for all employees.
Building Fund: Maintains a steady $7.6 million budget; the fund balance remains strong at $7.5 million.
Child Nutrition Fund: Budget increased to $7.1 million to support new staff and equipment. The fund balance will shrink from 60.6% to 50.1%.
Tech Center Building Fund: A $3 million budget includes classroom upgrades, software purchase and remodeling. The fund balance remains high at $12.2 million.
Sinking Fund (Debt Service): Budgeted at $18 million to meet bond obligations; supported by ad valorem tax base.
Ed Daniel, board member, asked about the overall health of the district’s budget.
Woodard said the district has taken a careful approach towards budgeting and makes adjustments throughout the year.
“We can’t control the revenue, but we can control the expenditures,” she said.
Superintendent Rick Cobb agreed, saying the district routinely underestimates revenues and overestimates expenses.
Shelly Schultz, board member, thanked the administration for taking a thoughtful approach towards finances.
“It sounds like you’re insulting the district in a very meaningful way year over year which is good,” she said.
The board unanimously passed the FY26 budget by a 5-0 vote.
The budget begins July 1.
