Tahoe‑Truckee Unified board adopts $103.4 million proposed budget for 2025–26

The Tahoe‑Truckee Unified School District board on June 25 voted to adopt the proposed 2025–26 general fund budget after a presentation by Chief Business Officer Todd Rivera outlining revenues, expenditures and multiyear projections.

Rivera said the district expects revenues of just under $103 million in 2025–26 and estimated actuals for 2024–25 to finish at $100,257,708. He reported a net change of about $898,000 from the second interim forecast, driven by property‑tax adjustments, a $400,000 insurance settlement for winter damage, a workers‑compensation dividend of about $269,000 and slight increases to special‑education funding and interest earnings.

On the spending side, Rivera said expenditures are projected at about $103,447,177, with about 83% of the budget devoted to salaries and benefits. He explained vacancy savings from 2024–25 and projected step‑and‑column salary moves for certificated and classified staff, plus anticipated increases in utilities and capital outlay drawn from one‑time projects. He also noted potential state and federal budget uncertainties, including proposed consolidations of some federal programs and the governor’s May revision, and said the district assumed a conservative property‑tax increase for future years in its multi‑year projections.

Trustees asked for clarification about the district’s reserve level, how property‑tax estimates are calculated and the short‑term nature of several grants that must be re‑funded or absorbed into the general fund in later years. Rivera said the district expects an estimated reserve of about $15.6 million at year‑end 2024–25 and projected that reserve would grow in out years absent salary increases or other changes. He warned basic‑aid status means the district depends heavily on property taxes and must hold larger reserves to weather volatility.

During public comment, Tara Burns asked detailed questions about property‑tax assessment rolls and turnover as a driver of assessed valuation; Rivera explained assessors’ processes, Proposition 13 limits on annual assessed‑value increases and why exact numbers are not final until July.

Trustee motion and vote: Trustee moved to accept the 2025–26 proposed budget; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The board will present unaudited actuals in September, the final audit later and the first interim report in December.

Rivera said staff will return with first‑interim adjustments and any new information from state budget trailer bills.