Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MUSD previews FY26 budget and approves 5% pay increase, $200,000 employee wellness start-up
Summary
Maricopa Unified presented a FY26 budget first look on Jan. 22 projecting an M&O general budget limit just over $87 million and proposed a 5% across-the-board staff increase alongside a $200,000 employee-wellness startup; the board approved personnel, calendar and multiple procurement items by unanimous roll call.
Maricopa Unified School District staff presented a first look at fiscal year 2026 budget projections and sought board approval for personnel and compensation items at the Jan. 22 governing board meeting.
Mister Harmon, director of finance, told the board the district projects growth in average daily membership (ADM) of about 377 students and is forecasting a FY26 Maintenance & Operations (M&O) general budget limit "to be just over $87,000,000." He said the district plans to offset revenue uncertainty by using established reserves in other funds and by prioritizing competitive compensation increases.
The proposed budget framework included a 5% across-the-board salary increase for employees, an increase in the starting teacher salary from $54,000 to $56,000, a $200,000 investment to create an employee wellness program, and targeted adjustments to job classifications identified in a statewide salary study. Harmon also outlined fixed-cost assumptions (2.44% inflation for goods and services, a 7% set-aside for health insurance rate increases) and a contingency equal to 1% of the M&O general budget limit.
Harmon described reserves and fund balances the district plans to use: a Classroom Site Fund reserve near $6,000,000, a Medicaid reimbursement reserve of about $6,500,000 and an indirect cost fund reserve of approximately $5,000,000. He said the district proposes to use ongoing revenues from those funds to support the expenditure plan while preserving reserves for future stability.
Board members broadly supported the teacher pay proposal but pressed staff on classified wages and long-term compensation structure. Vice President Patty Cutre and others asked the administration to prioritize 12-month classified positions and to develop a compensation matrix so future position creation and pay decisions can be consistently benchmarked. Harmon said the district will research tools and move forward incrementally while increasing classified pay this year.
Board action and capital purchases: the board voted to approve several consent and action items. The personnel schedule (agenda item 8A), the 2025-26 work calendar (8B) and the employee compensation plan for the 2025-26 school year (8C) were each approved on roll-call votes. The board also approved a job-order-contract (JOC) with Core Construction and an above-threshold purchase to install two portable classrooms at Santa Rosa Elementary School (8D); staff said substantial completion is targeted for May 30 to have furniture staged before teachers return. Separately, the board approved a JOC contract and above-threshold purchase to Maneth Sports Construction for turf replacement at Maricopa High School (8E); staff said the turf is 12 years old and the project is scheduled for spring break with an option to add a geofill infill to reduce surface temperatures.
Votes at a glance: - Agenda 7 (Consent agenda): approved, roll call (Rothschild, Owens, Lopez, Cutre, Downey) all "Aye." Outcome: approved. - Agenda 8A, personnel schedule: motion to accept HR schedule; outcome: approved (5-0). - Agenda 8B, 2025-26 work calendar: motion approved; outcome: approved (5-0). - Agenda 8C, employee compensation plan (2025-26): board approved proposed compensation changes including 5% across-the-board increase and raising starting teacher salary to $56,000; outcome: approved (5-0). - Agenda 8D, JOC and above-threshold purchase to Core Construction for two portable classrooms at Santa Rosa Elementary: motion approved; outcome: approved (5-0). Key detail: substantial completion target May 30; manufacturer requires PO by Feb. 10 to meet schedule. - Agenda 8E, JOC and above-threshold purchase to Maneth Sports Construction for turf replacement at Maricopa High School: motion approved; outcome: approved (5-0). Key detail: turf ~12 years old; project scheduled during spring break; $35,000 alternate for GeoFill infill to reduce surface temperature included as an add-on option.
The board asked administration to return with more details where appropriate (metrics tying counseling and interventions to attendance/grades, community engagement options for the budget process, and a compensation matrix or benchmarking approach for classified and administrative roles).
