“So the ’16-’17 school year our expenses do start to outpace revenues," said Pendleton. "That’s not an uncommon anomaly in school finance. So the conversation’s centered around, ‘How do we stretch that? How do we protect that from happening?’ While the deficit carries that negative connotation it does not represent what cash balance is on the books.”

Pendleton says the recent budget projection is the last of 2015 before negotiations begin next year between the district and teachers.