Chandler Unified adopts first 2025–26 budget revision; petitions state for advanced payment of aid

The Chandler Unified School District Governing Board approved the first revision to its 2025–26 annual expenditure budget Sept. 10, following a required public hearing in which district finance staff described enrollment, weighting and legislative adjustments that changed the adopted numbers.

Key figures and reasons for the revision District business officials said average daily membership (ADM) figures fell compared with the previous year and the district’s original budget assumptions. The district reported an overall ADM adjustment of 1,179 students compared with last fiscal year; the maintenance-and-operations (M&O) budget was revised from $240,775,637 to $238,805,616, a decrease of $1,970,021, primarily driven by the ADM change.

At the same time, the legislature approved several one-time or restored funding items after the district filed its July forms. Those additions required a budget revision under state rules and include:

- Prop. 123 renewal funds: $2,847,450 (one-time distribution described by staff) - Additional capital funding (one-time): $1,093,004.28 - Group B weight for free-and-reduced count (one-time): $708,921

Taken together with enrollment changes and special-education weight adjustments (staff noted an approximate $336,000 change tied to weighted special-needs students), the aggregated budget revision increased aggregated total by about $2.2 million overall while reducing the M&O line tied to current-year ADM.

Classroom Site Fund and capital Business staff also reported minor decreases and increases across funds once interest earnings and updated ADM were layered in; Classroom Site Fund was reduced in planned expenditures but showed increased interest earnings that raised its available total. Capital funding is based on prior-year counts, and staff noted small adjustments and a net slight increase after interest was added.

Board action and required filing Board member Heap moved adoption of the 2025–26 first budget revision; the motion was seconded and approved unanimously by acclamation. The district must submit the revised budget electronically to the superintendent of public instruction by Sept. 18 under Arizona law.

Advanced state-aid petition As a separate action, the board unanimously approved a resolution petitioning the Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction for advanced payment of state aid (ARS 15-973(c)). Business staff said the petition is a routine cash-flow tool districts use when state apportionment timing and current obligations make an advance payment necessary; if the state approves the petition, the district can reduce or avoid issuing tax anticipation notes or registered warrants.

Quotation "These are dollars that the legislature had allowed us to have that are one-time funding sources that are added back in," budget presenter Mrs. Berry said in explaining the revisions.

What’s next The district will reconcile final annual financial report numbers and expects to return to the board with additional refinements in December and again in May as required by state budget revision cycles. The petition for advanced payment will be filed with the state superintendent’s office by the Sept. 18 deadline.