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State budget leaves revenue limit unchanged; Arrowhead told to expect higher levies and modest special‑education aid increases
Summary
District administration told the board the 2025–27 state budget did not raise the revenue limit, which will likely pressure property tax levies; high‑cost special‑education aid will increase to cover 50% of costs above $30,000 in the first year, and modest mental‑health and robotics grant dollars were also noted.
In an annual update July 9, Arrowhead Union High School District administrators told the board that the state budget for 2025–27 left the district revenue limit essentially unchanged, a change that administrators said will not keep pace with inflation and is likely to result in higher local levies.
“ You can expect school district tax levies will be going up,” the superintendent said as he summarized key points from business staff. The presentation noted some targeted increases in aid: high‑cost special‑education funding was expanded so that costs exceeding $30,000 per student will be aided at 50% in the first year (rising in subsequent years per the enacted schedule), and the district will likely see only modest increases in statewide mental‑health funding and robotics participation grants. Administrators estimated the district’s share of these targeted funds would be small (the district’s mental‑health allocation was cited at roughly $57,000 for the current year; a robotics grant of about $4,000 was mentioned).
The administrators also reviewed open‑enrollment and choice funding levels, pointing out that some charter/choice schools receive higher per‑student funding for certain students compared with public open‑enrollment amounts. Staff noted the revenue limit per resident student is expected to be just under $12,000 next year and reiterated that referendum or levy language is not clearly shown on tax bills, prompting discussion about transparency bills in the legislature.
Administration said federal Title funding remains uncertain and that the district’s share is small (the superintendent estimated about $30,000). Board members asked for follow‑up on detailed revenue projections and clarifications on high‑cost special‑education percentages and phase‑in timing.
No formal board action on budget projections was required that night; the report was presented for board awareness and planning.
