Cartwright board approves revised 2025–26 budget after public hearing

At its September 2025 meeting, the Cartwright Elementary District Governing Board approved a revised 2025–26 annual expenditure budget after a public hearing on state funding changes and enrollment declines.

District business official Dr. Derek Etheridge told the board the state added a 2% increase to the base support level and a $75 million state aid supplement, and that those changes required the district to file a revision by Sept. 15 under state statute. "This is a public hearing for our first budget revision from the adopted budget that we adopted in June," Etheridge said, explaining the district had adopted an initial budget before the Legislature finalized the state budget.

The revision reflects three main forces: new state-level additions, lower-than-expected student attendance and an improved carryforward position. Etheridge said enrollment was lower than projected: the district was "down about 350 students" from the June adopted estimate and about 700 students compared with the prior year, which he said equates to roughly 430 weighted average daily membership (ADM) fewer than budgeted. "So that's a big hit to the budget," he said.

Despite the decline in students, some state funding increases softened the impact. Etheridge said the state base support level rose from about $5,013 to about $5,113 per pupil, and that the State Aid Supplement (money the district receives via the state) will provide Cartwright approximately $818,000. The transcript also records reference to a one-time free-and-reduced-price-lunch supplement and a one-time district additional assistance (DAA) add-on; Etheridge said the district did not include those uncertain amounts in the revision and would address them in later adjustments. "I did not budget for it in this revision though because we don't know how much. So I'd rather be conservative and say, let's pretend we're not getting it," he said.

The revision increased projected carryforward and available maintenance and operations (M&O) funds. Etheridge said carryforward was higher than projected in June—about $2.8 million more—producing an increase of roughly $3.1 million in available M&O funds. Capital funds also benefitted from closing encumbrances, adding about $1.9 million in carryforward for capital expenditures.

Looking ahead, board members and staff flagged ongoing pressures. Etheridge listed two large capital needs for the year: a Chromebook refresh for devices purchased in 2020–21 and a kindergarten-through-third-grade ELA textbook adoption; both may require transfers between M&O and capital funds. "We're gonna have to figure out how do we replace our fleet there," Etheridge said about Chromebooks, and he noted textbook adoptions can run into the millions of dollars.

Board members emphasized fiscal caution. Governing Board President Lydia Hernandez urged due diligence on curriculum and contract decisions, saying the board must avoid hasty spending. Vice President Rosa Cantu, who asked several consent-agenda questions earlier in the meeting, took part in the roll-call votes approving the revision.

The governing board voted to adopt the revised FY2026 annual expenditure budget. The motion to approve was made by Governing Board President Lydia Hernandez, seconded by Rosa Cantu, and passed on a roll-call vote with the three members present voting aye: Rosa Cantu, Cassandra Hernandez and Lydia Hernandez.

The board did not adopt additional one-time supplements in this revision; Etheridge said amounts that arrive later from the state would be considered in subsequent budget updates.

Votes at a glance - Motion: Approve revised FY2026 annual expenditure budget as presented. Mover: Lydia Hernandez; Second: Rosa Cantu. Vote: Cantu — aye; Cassandra Hernandez — aye; Lydia Hernandez — aye. Outcome: approved.

Proper names: Cartwright Elementary District (4282); State Aid Supplement; Proposition 123; Stewart branch (Boys and Girls Club) referenced elsewhere in meeting.

Clarifying details: base support level increase ≈ $100 per pupil (from ~$5,013 to ~$5,113); State Aid Supplement provides roughly $818,000 to the district; district enrollment down ~350 students versus June adoption and ~700 students versus prior year (≈430 weighted ADM loss from the June estimate); carryforward increased ≈ $2.8 million vs. June projection, adding ≈ $3.1 million to available M&O funds; capital carryforward increased ≈ $1.9 million; two anticipated large purchases: Chromebook fleet refresh and K–3 ELA textbook adoption (costs not yet finalized).