Del Mar Union trustees adopt $81.1 million budget for 2025–26

The Del Mar Union School District Board of Trustees voted Wednesday to adopt the district’s proposed budget for the 2025–26 school year, approving the plan by voice vote.

The adopted budget lists total revenues of $81.1 million and total expenditures roughly $80.8 million for 2025–26, producing a modest net increase in the district’s ending fund balance and an unrestricted general-fund reserve of about 22.7%, staff said.

District Chief Financial Officer Chris Delhanty and Deputy Superintendent Sarah Smart told the board the budget reflects small adjustments since the first reading in May, including an updated foundation donation and a 4% projected property-tax increase. “As we look at the general fund, we have just some small adjustments from our first read last month, with current revenue at $81,100,000,” Delhanty said during the presentation.

Nut graf: The budget continues the district’s stated priorities — smaller class sizes, STEAM-plus programs, support for student well-being, deferred maintenance and funding an OPEB trust — while preserving what staff described as a conservative reserve to cover pension and other long-term obligations.

Inverted-pyramid details: Staff assumptions include a 4% rise in property taxes, a 0.5% contribution from property tax to deferred maintenance, and an updated $950,000 donation from the Del Mar Foundation. The budget includes a $3.6 million “on-behalf” contribution for STRS/CalSTRS that is reflected in both revenue and expenditures.

Delhanty highlighted that the district’s payroll and benefits remain the largest line items: roughly 84% of expenditures are personnel-related. He also noted a modest decrease in the CalPERS employer pension rate that slightly eased projected costs. “PERS has been able to slightly decrease the rate,” he said, attributing the change to recent market returns.

Sarah Smart reviewed the district’s multiyear projection, which shows revenues rising to approximately $83.4 million in 2026–27 and $85.5 million in 2027–28 while expenditures also grow; staff projected the district would remain near the current reserve percentage across the three-year window.

The presentation reviewed other district funds: the cafeteria fund (budgeted essentially flat at about $2.6 million), deferred maintenance (projected ending balance about $3.7 million), measure/series-c bond funds, developer-fee (capital facilities) receipts, and special reserves created from the sale of the district office. Staff emphasized that some funds, such as the Measure/Series C account, are restricted and overseen by a citizens’ oversight committee.

Board members asked several technical questions about fund differences, the use of CFD/Mello-Roos proceeds for sites, and whether CFD funds could help particular school shortfalls; staff said CFD funds must be used for projects that clearly serve students in the CFD area and that they already accounted for CFD dollars in facilities planning.

Ending: After discussion, a trustee moved, a second was offered and the board approved the 2025–26 proposed budget by voice vote. Staff said the budget package will be posted for the public and submitted to the county office of education for the routine review required by state law.