CVUSD board files positive certification but projects $44.3 million deficit in 2024-25 second interim

The Coachella Valley Unified School District Board of Trustees approved the district's 2024–25 second interim budget report and multi‑year projection, filing a "positive certification" even while presenting a projected deficit of $44,300,000 for the current fiscal year.

Superintendent Tavares, who presented the report, said, "At this time, the District is filing a positive certification that we will meet our financial obligations in the current and in the two subsequent years." The report reflects revenues of $373,600,000 and estimated expenditures of $417,000,000 through June 30, 2025.

The report matters because the district must certify whether it can meet its financial obligations; staff said the district's current numbers show it will meet the minimum required reserves in the near term only if planned reductions are implemented. The board vote to accept the interim report was unanimous.

District staff told the board the second interim reflects revenues and expenditures through Jan. 30, 2025, and uses several assumptions: an estimated funded average daily attendance (ADA) of about 14,009 (the district's estimated actual ADA was higher at 14,417 but funding is based…