Dysart Unified board approves proposed $220.2 million budget for 2025-26

The Dysart Unified School District governing board on a voice vote approved a proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget with estimated total revenues and expenditures of about $220,200,000, district staff said.

The proposed budget, presented by Ms. Bridal, includes an estimated unrestricted capital fund limit of about $24,900,000, classroom site fund revenue based on a JLBC estimate that raises per-pupil funding from $7.92 to $8.42, and projected special-projects and food-service totals. Ms. Bridal told the board the numbers are preliminary because state legislation remained in session and some revenues — including Prop 123 funding and a one-time free-and-reduced-price-lunch allocation — were not finalized.

The board received context on how staff built the proposal and what will change when final state decisions arrive. "This is not going to change from that, when we adopt it, but we will be revising September 15," Ms. Bridal said, referring to a planned budget revision once final state allocations are known.

District staff said the budget reflects actions the board already approved earlier in the year: a 2% base pay increase for current employees, a 3% retention stipend for continuously employed staff, a benefits package approved in February that increased costs by about $500,000, and estimated minimum-wage and utility-rate increases. Staff also told the board that last year the district transferred roughly $3,000,000 of one-time funding into capital rather than embedding it in ongoing operations; that carryforward is reflected in the capital line item for the coming year.

On revenue assumptions, staff said they conservatively estimated average daily membership (ADM) and expected a modest increase in enrollment but did not embed any large gains until counts are finalized. The presentation noted federal and state grant figures in the packet reflect preliminary allocations (staff said the state often provides about 80% of the expected allocation initially) and that final carryforward amounts will be reflected in later revisions.

The district also described its capital planning and facilities grant activity: applications to the School Facilities Board remain pending, and staff used conservative estimates for building-renewal grant receipts (staff noted FY25 receipts were about $9.5 million). Food service revenues were estimated at about $13,500,000, and special projects funds combined approached $30,000,000 in the draft package.

Board members asked for clarifications during Q&A. Member Dusters asked whether the proposed budget already excludes the one-time Prop 123 and free-and-reduced-price-lunch funds; Bridal confirmed those items were not counted as ongoing revenues in the proposal. When board members requested earlier tracking and updated ADM projections, staff said they expect to bring a revised budget by Sept. 15 once legislative and enrollment figures are finalized.

The board moved to approve the proposed budget as presented; the motion carried.

Details pulled from the board packet and the meeting presentation included estimated totals and the staff plan to post the proposed budget on the district website and submit it to the Arizona Department of Education with a link to the public hearing for the adopted budget.