Florence Unified adopts conservative FY26 budget after public hearing; superintendent outlines state funding changes

The Florence Unified School District Governing Board on July 8 adopted the district—s Fiscal Year 2026 annual expenditure budget after a public hearing and a presentation by Superintendent Knudson.

Superintendent Knudson told the board the statewide budget had only been finalized the week before the meeting and that the district—s proposed budget was prepared on a conservative assumption set. "Per guidance from the auditor generals, we're to stick with the same so if we propose on 1, we need to adopt on the other, and we can revise later," Knudson said. He said the district had prepared a conservative maintenance and operations (M&O) estimate that also assumed a 2.5% reduction in student enrollment.

Why it matters: Adopting the budget allows the district to meet statutory deadlines and begin the fiscal year with adopted spending limits, while retaining the option to amend the…