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Kern County presents proposed 2025‑26 budget; county staff outlines May revise risks and Prop 98 implications
Summary
Kern County Superintendent of Schools staff presented the proposed 2025‑26 County School Service Fund budget and later summarized the state May revise, warning of multi‑billion‑dollar swing in revenues and potential pressure on future years despite limited immediate impact to Prop 98 funding this year.
Kern County Superintendent of Schools staff presented a proposed 2025‑26 County School Service Fund budget and briefed the board on the governor’s May revise, saying state revenue revisions create substantial uncertainty for future years.
Jonathan Medina, presenting the proposed 2025‑26 budget, summarized key revenue and expenditure projections for the county office. Medina said general fund revenues are projected to fall from $355 million in 2024‑25 to $306 million in 2025‑26 — a $45 million decrease — driven by several components: an approximately $2 million reduction linked to ADA normalization in alternative education, another roughly $2 million decline in federal revenues (noting expected declines in Migrant and AmeriCorps program funding), a $17 million projected decline in other state revenues due to several multi‑year grants rolling off, and a projected $27 million decrease in local fee‑for‑service revenue pending year‑end carryovers.
On expenditures Medina summarized a projected $13 million decrease year‑over‑year, while noting some program areas will see increases (alternative education and special education staffing and operations) and other areas will decline as one‑time grants end. He also reviewed other funds: the charter school fund (Valley Oaks) is projected to increase slightly with COLA; the child development fund is projected to shrink due to a reduced number of state slots (about $28 million decrease); and cafeteria/cafeteria‑related revenues should increase as the new central kitchen brings additional contracts online.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the timing of trailer bills and the opportunity for a 45‑day update if the Legislature’s final budget changes materially. Medina said a June enacted budget will provide more clarity and any significant differences would be reported in a required 45‑day revision or at the December interim review.
Later in the meeting Superintendent Dr. Mindenborough and staff summarized the May revise for trustees. The May revise reduced projected state revenues from earlier January assumptions, creating a swing from an anticipated surplus to a multi‑billion‑dollar deficit over the coming years. Dr. Mindenborough explained Proposition 98 (the state constitutional guarantee for education funding) and how it constrains near‑term reductions to K‑12 funding even as the overall state outlook worsens; he said the state’s Prop 98 rainy‑day reserve may be drawn down to zero by the end of 2025‑26 under current projections.
Trustees were briefed on proposed statewide items in the May revise that could affect districts and county offices, including a $1.7 billion discretionary block grant (reduced from an earlier proposal), $200 million for literacy professional development, additional TK funding and possible changes to TK ratios, a $600 million proposal for kitchen infrastructure, and targeted teacher recruitment/retention supports. The superintendent noted that some program proposals and trailer bill language referenced Kern County Superintendent of Schools for administration (for example, a proposed stipend program for student teachers), but that language remains subject to change as the Legislature finalizes the budget.
No budget adoption occurred at the meeting; the presentation was part of a public hearing and the board will consider budget adoption in June.
