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97 <br /> EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page 13 <br /> Board of Education's Budget Request for FY 2026-27 <br /> The following narrative outlines the major elements shaping the District's financial plan for the <br /> upcoming fiscal year. It details the continuation costs required to sustain current operations, <br /> highlights the District's multi-year strategic budget vision centered on realignment, reinvestment, <br /> and long-term sustainability, and explains how these priorities will be reflected in the Board of <br /> Education's funding request to Orange County. <br /> At its core, this vision centers on aligning resources with current priorities and enrollment <br /> realities, reinvesting in high-impact strategies that directly support student outcomes, and <br /> establishing long-term structural sustainability within the Local Operating Budget. Central to this <br /> effort is a deliberate, multi-year strategy to rebuild the District's diminished fund balance, <br /> strengthen financial resiliency, and restore appropriate reserve levels to safeguard against future <br /> fiscal volatility. <br /> Student Data <br /> The District's financial planning process begins with a thorough analysis of enrollment <br /> projections for the upcoming year, as these projections significantly influence both State and <br /> local funding levels. Each fiscal year, Orange County adopts educational funding levels based on <br /> the projected student enrollment for both school districts within the County. The allocation our <br /> district receives is determined by the proportional split between our projected enrollment and <br /> that of Orange County Schools (OCS). State enrollment funding for next year will be based on <br /> the current year's best of 20th or 40th day Average Daily Membership (ADM). For FY 2025-26, <br /> the District's 40th day ADM was 10,773. Out-of-district student enrollment was 260, and charter <br /> school enrollment was 228. After accounting for the 260 out-of-district students and adding the <br /> 228 charter school students, the net projected budgeted enrollment for FY 2026-27 is 10,741 <br /> budgeted students. This represents a decrease of 277 students compared to the FY 2025-26 <br /> budgeted enrollment. <br /> 2026-27 Enrollment Projections <br /> CHCCS <br /> 40th Day Average Daily Membership 10,773 <br /> Less: Out of District Students (260) <br /> 10,513 <br /> Plus: Budgeted Charter Students 228 <br /> Total Budgeted Students 10,741 <br /> Continuation Cost Requirement <br /> The largest foundational piece that the District considers when financially planning for an <br /> upcoming fiscal year is in the estimated continuation portion of the Local Operating Budget. <br /> This calculation represents the expenses required to be able to continue providing the existing <br /> level of services and standards of education in the upcoming fiscal year before any structural or <br /> Chapel Hill—Carrboro City Schools—FY 2026-27 Board of Education's Budget Request <br />