Sunnyside board adopts fiscal year 2025–26 annual expenditure budget
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Summary
The Sunnyside Unified School District Governing Board voted unanimously to adopt its FY2025–26 annual expenditure budget after a presentation outlining state funding changes, reserve assumptions and items that will be revised when state allocations are finalized.
The Sunnyside Unified School District Governing Board adopted the district's fiscal year 2025'26 annual expenditure budget following a presentation by district finance staff and a roll-call vote in which all five board members voted yes.
In a presentation to the board, Carla Walters, a district staff member who led the budget briefing, told the board the district posted its proposed budget to the Arizona Department of Education website 10 days prior as required and recommended formal adoption that evening. Walters summarized changes in the state funding picture after the Arizona Legislature adjourned June 27 and described line-item adjustments captured in the proposed budget.
Walters said the state legislature confirmed a 2 percent inflation adjustment to the state base support level (from $5,013 to $5,113.26 for the cited base), a 2 percent increase in transportation per-mile funding and an increase in the Classroom Site Fund allocation (from $7.92 to $8.42). She also said the legislature continued $200 million for building renewal grants at the same funding level as the prior year and renewed a one-time district additional assistance and free-and-reduced-price-lunch allocation that the district expects to include in a later revision once amounts are finalized.
The presentation listed projected changes across fund groups: an increase in maintenance and operations of about $4.4 million from the prior year, a $2 million increase in Classroom Site Fund dollars, an increase of about $1.6 million in district additional assistance, a modest decline in bond-related building funds after exhausting previous bond building funds (noted as roughly $80,000 remaining), and a conservative reduction in federal and state grant estimates of about $7.4 million. Walters said other funds were estimated to increase about $2.5 million driven in part by instructional improvement funds and planned debt-service obligations for previous bonds. She said final adjustments tied to average daily membership (ADM), state allocations and other revenues would appear in the December 2025 budget revision.
On the tax rate, Walters said the district's estimated tax rate is calculated by the district but the Pima County Board of Supervisors will set the official tax rate in August; the district's estimate was described as "pretty flat." Walters also noted that Prop 123 allocations to the base support level would remain at prior-year amounts, although the exact appropriation was not yet determined.
After Walters's presentation the board moved to adopt the budget as presented. A roll call recorded votes in favor from Members Bustamante, Hernandez, Jaramillo, Rodriguez and President Quintero.
Board members offered no public questions during the hearing and the presenter indicated there had been no public feedback after the budget posting period closed. Walters told the board that any allocations not yet specified by the state would be added in a future revision and returned to the board for approval.
The board approved the motion to adopt the FY2025'26 annual expenditure budget by unanimous vote.
The board recorded the formal adoption in the meeting minutes and the district indicated it will publish the adopted budget and file required notices with the Arizona Department of Education and Pima County as applicable.
