Mt. Diablo Unified studies 2025–26 budget and warns of multi‑year shortfalls

The Mount Diablo Unified School District Board of Education on Oct. 4 held a study session on the district's adopted 2025–26 general fund budget and multi‑year projections, where staff warned that unless the district identifies new revenue or reductions it may not meet the 3% reserve requirement in 2026–27 and 2027–28.

Dr. Clark, a district staff member, opened the session and said the meeting was intended to “build a better understanding of school finance” and to give trustees a safe forum to ask questions. Adrian Vargas of fiscal services and a colleague identified as Gustavo walked trustees through the adopted budget, multi‑year assumptions and the district's restricted and unrestricted revenue and expenditure breakdowns.

Staff said the district's adopted total budget on slide 5 ties to a $515,000,000 figure: approximately $353,200,000 in LCFF revenue on the revenue side, unrestricted expenditures of about $330,610,000 and restricted expenditures of about $208,800,000. Restricted categorical balances were estimated in the presentation at roughly $61,300,000 in the adopted budget, and unaudited restricted resources at year‑end were cited as $69,600,000. Vargas described substantial restricted expenditures for special education, noting a contribution…