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Budget Planning for 2026-27
Growing Together — Centering Students
4J is committed to being as transparent as possible and providing timely updates to our 4J community as it reduces spending for the coming school year’s budget by tens of millions of dollars. This webpage provides detailed information about the budget shortfall and the steps toward closing it. Importantly, it provides ways for the 4J community to stay informed and involved so the district makes needed financial decisions while remaining committed to our top priorities: students’ academic success and social-emotional well-being.
Latest Updates
March 23, 2026: The first budget committee meeting of the spring will be April 8, rather than March 31 as initially planned so staff can review and confirm updated financial projections that have shown a budget shortfall for 2026-27 of $10-$20 million still remaining, even after preparing to reduce staff positions by more than 250 and trimming or eliminating many programs and services. Detail of the updated calculations as well as the plans to balance the budget will be shared at the first budget committee meeting.
Want to testify? Up to 10 community members will be scheduled to provide public comment at each meeting, with a 3-minute time limit per speaker. If more than 10 people request to speak, priority will be given to district residents who did not provide public comment during the previous two meetings, after which the selection of speakers will be determined randomly. Comments may only address topics listed on the published agenda for the budget committee.
Request to speak form (by 5 p.m. the Monday before the budget committee meeting)
Email the budget committee
Prior Updates
Update #6: March 19, 2026
Update #5: Feb. 4, 2026
Update #4: Jan. 23, 2026
Update #3: Jan. 9, 2026
Update #2: Dec. 18, 2025
Update #1: Nov. 25, 2025