Prescott Unified board approves FY‑26 budget with 2.5% pay increase, issues staff contracts and several policy and calendar changes

PRESCOTT, Ariz. — The Prescott Unified School District (PUSD) governing board on March 4 approved the district's proposed fiscal year 2025‑26 budget package, authorized issuance of staff contracts for the 2025‑26 school year and approved a set of related fiscal and operational items, including acceptance of the district's FY24 audit documents and a revision to the district rental fee schedule.

The board voted to adopt the overall budget package after staff presented enrollment projections, expected cost increases and recommended salary changes. District staff recommended a 2.5% salary increase for all employee groups in the package the board approved. "We are recommending for all staff a 2.5% raise," PUSD presenter Mister Moore said during the budget discussion, noting how the increase breaks down across employee groups.

The budget vote followed an extended presentation by district finance staff and discussion of line items that increase costs (medical insurance, APS rates, Trust/workers' comp costs) and items that increase revenue or reduce expenses (teacher experience index adjustments, federal high‑cost special education reimbursement). The board was also briefed on a projected 92‑student decrease in enrollment compared with last year and on one‑time and recurring changes to staffing and program funding to manage student needs.

What the board approved - Budget package for FY 2025‑26, including a 2.5% recommended raise for employees. District staff said the total cost of the raise in the conceptual package is about $604,000; staff gave a breakdown during the meeting (teachers ~ $292,000; classified ~ $200,000; psychologists and related…