Natomas Charter board adopts 2025–26 budget, approves staffing declaration and signature resolution

The Natomas Charter School Board of Directors on June 9 voted to adopt its 2025–26 general fund budget and approved two routine administrative resolutions: a declaration of need that allows the district to hire teachers on emergency permits when necessary, and a resolution certifying the official signatures the district will use next school year.

Board members and staff framed the adopted budget as aligned with the district’s Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) priorities and said it balances investments in staff compensation and programs while continuing to set aside funds for planned facilities work. Presenters described the plan as “positive” and noted the district expects to close the year with a modest surplus rather than a deficit.

Why it matters: the adopted budget funds core instruction, employee compensation increases, and planned capital reserves that the board and staff said are intended to support upcoming facilities projects, including potential TK classroom construction. It also sets the baseline for staffing, programs and vendor commitments for the 2025–26 school year.

Key details from staff presentation: Laura (presenter) and Anita (business/finance lead) told the board the budget assumes a state cost-of-living adjustment of 2.43% and projects average per-pupil funding (LCFF) of $12,004.32 for the 2025–26 year. The district projected average daily attendance (ADA) of 1,778.4 and an unduplicated pupil percentage around 42%, a figure staff said reflects recent outreach and use of alternative income forms. Pension rates used in the plan included CalSTRS at 19.10% and a CalPERS projection of 27.4% for the coming year. Staff also flagged that state-level one-time funds and budget trailer language could change the district’s fall budget update.

On compensation and programs, the budget includes: a 1% across-the-board additional compensation the board previously approved, employer health-and-welfare contribution increases, step-and-column funding (staff estimated about $750,000), and an increase in professional-development allowances from $500 to $600 per certificated staff member. The budget retains expanded learning programs, PBIS implementation funds, and funding for special education; staff said special education total expenses are roughly $1.4 million with nearly $2.0 million in federal and state reimbursements.

Facilities and reserves: staff emphasized the board’s goal to accumulate reserves for upcoming projects. Of the roughly $22.8 million projected ending fund balance shown in the presentation, about $8–9 million was described as already committed to facilities work. Staff described outreach on potential grants (including a TK facilities grant) that, if awarded, could cover roughly half of an estimated $6–8 million project. Presenters warned that construction inflation is real and that grant programs often build inflation factors into their awards.

Board action and roll calls: the board’s motions to approve the adopted budget, the declaration of need for fully qualified teachers, and the certification of signatures passed by roll call. The transcript records individual board members answering in the affirmative during roll call; the motions carried without any noted no votes or abstentions.

Votes at a glance: - Motion: Adopt 2025–26 adopted general fund budget (motion and second not specified in transcript). Outcome: approved (roll-call affirmative; no abstentions reported). Notes: Budget includes 2.43% COLA assumption, ADA 1,778.4, average LCFF per-pupil $12,004.32, projected ending fund balance $22.89M. - Motion: Approve declaration of need for fully qualified teachers (allows emergency/temporary permits). Outcome: approved (roll-call affirmative). Notes: Staff noted two middle-school vacancies at the time of the meeting and said the declaration provides summer flexibility if resignations occur. - Motion: Approve Resolution 06092025.01 certification of official signatures for 2025–26. Outcome: approved (roll-call affirmative).

What the board and staff said: Anita (business/finance staff) told the board that salary-and-benefit costs make up roughly 80% of the budget and that direct classroom instruction represents about 62% of total expenditures. Laura (presenter) reiterated that the adopted budget is intended to mirror LCAP priorities—math, literacy, school culture/attendance, and human resources—while preserving funds for planned facilities work.

Next steps: staff said they will monitor the state budget trailer bills over the summer and update the board if material one-time funds or restrictions arrive; unaudited actuals will be presented in September. Staff also noted potential changes to state-provided revenue once final test results and state data releases are complete.

Meeting context: the budget approval followed a formal public hearing on the district’s LCAP and came after closed-session business earlier in the meeting. No board member public dissent to the adopted budget was recorded in the transcript.

Ending: The board’s budget action sets the district’s spending priorities for 2025–26 while leaving staff flexibility to incorporate any late state changes when they bring unaudited actuals to the board in September.