Gilbert Unified board approves FY2026 budget revision No. 1, adds state aid and federal grant line items

The Gilbert Unified District governing board on Thursday approved its first revision to the fiscal year 2026 budget, increasing maintenance and operations (M&O) revenue after a correction to state form data and adding previously omitted state and federal line items.

The board voted to approve “fiscal year 2026 budget revision number 1” after a presentation from the district finance team. “We were conservative when we proposed and adopted, and we we didn't know at the time what the state was going to do with the prop 1 2 3 or the other add ons, so we left them off,” said Miss Matinon, a member of the budget team, summarizing the change in state-reported add-ons.

Why it matters: The revision increases resources available for day‑to‑day operations and records federal grant awards the district expects to spend, which will affect internal budget authority and reporting to the state.

Key changes cited in the presentation: - A data correction on state forms increased the district’s weighted student count by 100, producing an estimated $520,000 increase to the M&O revenue control limit. The presenter described this as a correction to the free‑and‑reduced lunch and gifted add‑on entries on the state forms. - The district added Proposition 123 and the free‑and‑reduced add‑on, described during the presentation as previously omitted from the adopted budget; that change was reported as $2,520,000. - Taken together, the two adjustments increase M&O authority by $3,040,000 (the $520,000 correction plus $2,520,000 in add‑ons), according to the arithmetic shown during the presentation. - Unrestricted capital increased by a one‑time state aid entry of $750,000 that had been left off the adopted budget. - The district also added other federal funds that were zeroed out at adoption; presenters identified ROTC (Reserve Officers’ Training Corps) and SSI (Systemic School Improvement) as now reflected on the revision. The presenter asked that the board sign the revised budget forms after the presentation to enable processing.

During the meeting the finance team asked the board to approve a new budget manager, Amber Morgan, pending board approval and signature on the revised state forms. That recommendation was presented but the transcript does not record a separate vote on the hiring; the budget revision itself required board approval.

Board action and procedure: Board member Jill Humphreys moved to approve the revision; Shana Murray seconded. The board chair, President Chad Thompson, called the question and the board voted in favor.

Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (agenda item 5): moved by Jill Humphreys; second by Jesse Braynard. Outcome: approved (ayes; no recorded opposition). - FY2026 Budget Revision No. 1 (agenda item 6.01): moved by Jill Humphreys; second by Shana Murray. Outcome: approved (ayes; no recorded opposition). - Recess before action items: motion made and seconded on the floor; outcome: approved (the board recessed and later reconvened). - Executive session (agenda item 7): moved by Jill Humphreys; second by Dr. Blake Robison. The board voted to enter executive session under ARS 38‑431.03 to consult with counsel and consider a contract subject to negotiation related to the EVIT satellite intergovernmental agreement. Outcome: approved (ayes; no recorded opposition).

What the record does and does not show: Presenters identified the specific increases and the reasons for them (data correction, previously excluded state add‑ons, and added federal grant lines). The transcript records the amounts and the arithmetic described by presenters; it does not record a line‑by‑line breakdown of where the $3,040,000 increment will be spent within M&O, nor does it record a separate board vote approving the recommended budget manager Amber Morgan. The board signed the revised budget forms before moving into executive session, per the presenters’ request.

The board then moved into a closed executive session under Arizona Revised Statutes § 38‑431.03 to receive legal advice and discuss a contract subject to negotiation tied to the EVIT satellite intergovernmental agreement; additional action items were set to be handled after the executive session.