Chandler Unified adopts 2025–26 expenditure budget, approves $4 million truth‑in‑taxation for adjacent‑ways projects

The Chandler Unified School District governing board unanimously approved the district's proposed 2025–26 expenditure budget and a separate $4 million truth‑in‑taxation request at its July 9 meeting.

In a public hearing, Lana Berry summarized the adopted budget and the reasons the board must revisit it in September. Berry said the Legislature’s late approvals of certain items — including reinstated supplemental funding for free and reduced‑price lunch (FRPL) and additional capital inflation adjustments tied to Proposition 123 — are not reflected in the adopted document and will be added in a required September revision. "You will have to revise the budget in September to include the things that were finally approved at the June," Berry said.

Key figures presented by Berry and staff: the district's aggregated expenditure portion of the budget is about $394 million; the district's total operations across 59 funds is approximately $650 million. The maintenance and operations (M&O) fund is the largest element at roughly $349 million; capital expenditures were presented at about $26 million; federal program dollars are approximately $18 million. State action gave districts a 2% ongoing base increase (Prop 301), which Berry said will add roughly $5.4 million to the district's M&O base. Berry told the board that two late legislative items — a Prop 123 allocation and reinstated supplemental FRPL funding and district additional assistance (DAA) — together will add roughly $4.8 million to the district budget but will be reflected in the September revision rather than the adopted July document.

On the truth‑in‑taxation notice, the board approved a $4 million increase to fund safety and infrastructure work adjacent to district properties: Berry said roughly $2.5 million is planned for a roadway project near Weinberg Elementary and $1.5 million is reserved for repairs to adjacent‑way infrastructure (sidewalks, bus/fire lanes, utilities). Tom Dunn (facility planning) told the board the Weinberg roadway work is based on a traffic study and that designs and bids are not yet complete; the tax measure will fund projects if they are needed and later brought back for contract approval.

Board action and votes at the meeting:

- Consent agenda: motion to approve the consent agenda passed by acclamation and recorded as unanimous. - Truth‑in‑taxation increase (adjacent ways): motion carried by roll‑call; unanimous vote recorded. - Adoption of the 2025–26 proposed expenditure budget: motion carried by roll‑call; unanimous vote recorded.

The board and staff also discussed declining average daily membership (ADM), which reduces formula revenue and contributed to an M&O reduction of about $7 million and a capital reduction of about $12 million compared with the prior year's adopted figures; Berry said much of the year‑over‑year difference is carryover spending allocated in the prior year. She also detailed Proposition 301 classroom site fund levels (up to $842 per pupil) and said the district's Prop 301 carryover is expected to be around $25 million.

Ending: Berry told the board the business office will finish fiscal‑year closeouts in August and present a September revision that includes late legislative allocations; the board approved the budget and tax notice with unanimous votes during the July 9 meeting.