Lodi Board approves tentative 2025–26 budget, greenlights $2.35M in capital projects

The Lodi Board of Education on March 5 approved the district’s tentative 2025–26 budget and related motions (FB1–FB3), voting 7–2 to adopt the plan that includes $2,352,000 for capital projects, expanded state-funded preschool seats and a 2% increase in the general fund tax levy.

The tentative all-funds budget totals $94,410,446 and the general fund tax levy in the proposal is $39,841,424, a 2% increase the administration said represents a $781,204 rise over the current year. Interim Business Administrator Mr. Rinderknecht described the plan as a “high level overview” that relies on an increased state aid allocation and uses $2,600,000 of budgeted fund balance and a $2,352,000 withdrawal from the capital reserve to fund identified projects.

Why it matters: Board and public discussion focused on the trade-offs between immediate capital work and long-term competitiveness with charter schools. District officials said investments in safety, technology and science labs are intended to slow student departures to charter schools and to improve educational offerings, but the interim business administrator warned the proposed budget is about $4,300,000 below the state’s adequacy calculation for the district.

Board presentation and key items

Mr. D'Amico, a district staff member who introduced FB1, told the board the budget aims “to provide a comprehensive educational program that meets the…