Juneau School District launches interactive online budgeting tool
- Jasz Garrett
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
The tool's goal is to help show how different spending options affect the district's operating budget and to receive community feedback
By Jasz Garrett
Juneau Independent
Community members can have a more hands-on experience in exploring the Juneau School District’s operating budget as of Wednesday.
Balancing Act, an interactive online budgeting tool, starts with a “rollover” operating budget that includes the positions and items in this year’s operating budget. Users can adjust spending in different categories to reflect priorities.
As categories are adjusted, the budget tracker bar updates in real time.
“The goal is to close the deficit gap and turn the tracker bar green,” wrote Kristin Bartlett, the district’s chief of staff, in an email. “Just like in real life, the budget must balance in the end.”
Juneau residents can click on the information icons throughout the tool to learn more about specific budget items. Some items are locked because they are required by law or contract and cannot be adjusted. Additionally, the simulation reflects only the district’s operating fund, and does not include funds such as transportation, food service, and grants since they are designated for specific purposes, according to Bartlett.
Once someone has created a balanced budget with the tool, they can submit budget priorities directly to JSD administration and the Juneau Board of Education. Community members can also share spending priorities and comments for fiscal year 2027 by emailing budgetinput@juneauschools.org. More information on the district’s FY 2027 budget can be found here.
The next school board work session on the budget is on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé Room 206 or via Zoom.
• Contact Jasz Garrett at jasz@juneauindependent.com or (907) 723-9356.
