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Phoenix Union holds public hearings and adopts 2025–26 expenditure budget; truth-in-taxation notice included
Summary
The Phoenix Union High School District held public hearings on the proposed 2025–26 expenditure budget and truth-in-taxation notification and voted to adopt the expenditure budget, citing declining enrollment and a $389 million M&O budget that includes a $55 million desegregation allocation.
The Phoenix Union High School District governing board opened two public hearings — one on the proposed 2025–26 expenditure budget and a second on the district's truth-in-taxation notification — and later adopted the 2025 expenditure budget.
Dr. Adrian de Alba, the district's executive director of finance, summarized the budget at the hearing, saying the proposed expenditure budget "is based on the ADM of 25,516 students" and that the district has seen an enrollment decline of about 1,700 students over the last three years. De Alba told the board the total maintenance and operations (M&O) budget for 2025–26 is about $389,000,000 and includes a desegregation allocation of about $55,000,000.
The presentation noted that salaries and benefits make up roughly 87% of budgeted expenditures, purchased services about 8% and utilities about 4%. The budget also reflects negotiated salary adjustments the board previously approved: a 1% increase to the base of salary schedules, a one-step increase for qualifying staff and changes to one-time retention and new-hire stipends (to $2,000 for full-time and $1,000 for part-time staff who qualify). De Alba said the district budgets roughly 49% of expenditures for academic achievement and student services combined and that contingency reserves (about 20% of the proposed budget) consist primarily of one-time fund balances intended to be used strategically over three years.
De Alba explained the truth-in-taxation notification accompanies the budget because the district will continue to levy approximately $3,500,000 for adjacent ways, a restricted funding category used for land improvements adjacent to school sites. He told the board the projected overall tax rate for next year is about $4.29 per $100 of assessed value (a primary tax rate component of about $1.74 and a secondary rate of about $2.56) and that Maricopa County calculates the precise tax-rate components.
After the public hearing, the board considered adoption of the expenditure budget. Board member Meyer made the motion to adopt the 2025 expenditure budget; Representative Marquez seconded. During discussion, Dr. de Alba reiterated the budget is lower than the revised prior year budget because of declining enrollment. Board member Cota stated she would vote no, citing a desire for further efficiency and additional work on the budget; Pastor Rivera said he would vote yes. The motion passed and the board adopted the 2025–26 expenditure budget.
The board also held the required public hearing for the truth-in-taxation notification; no public comments were offered specific to the truth-in-taxation item.
The district and board repeatedly emphasized that projected revenues and tax components are affected by state budget activity still undetermined at the time of the hearing.
