The Queen Creek Unified School District governing board on Monday approved a revised FY25-26 expenditure budget designed to capture increased average daily membership (ADM) and expand the district's revenue-control capacity.

Jessica Johnston, who presented the revision to the board, said the district used the November ADM capture to update projections and maintain conservative budgeting practices. "This evening, we have a budget revision in order to capture the ADM that we have increased, in accordance with the 8 November ADM capture," Johnston said.

Johnston described the effects of the adjustment: the district's override adds "just over $16,000,000" to the operating budget; the ADM capture yields an increase to the revenue-control limit of about $4,000,000; and prior-year carryforward amounts are "just under $6,000,000" for maintenance and operations and "just under $3,000,000" for capital. She told the board staff will return with a final budget revision in May 2026 as enrollment continues to fluctuate.

A board member moved to approve the revised budget and the motion was seconded. The board then recorded affirmations by named members in the roll-call-style acknowledgement ("Samantha, I; Jennifer, I; Kelly, I") and approved the measure.

Why it matters: The revision adjusts operating capacity and capital planning based on the district's most recent enrollment counts and prior-year carryforward funds, which affects classroom staffing, program support and capital projects. Johnston said the update also reflects the priorities authorized by voters in the district override reauthorization, including salary and benefit support, reduced class sizes, reading and math interventionists, and CTE and arts programming.

What's next: Staff will monitor ADM through spring enrollment and present a final budget revision in May 2026.