Duarte Unified board approves first interim budget report, certifies district "positive" despite $9 million deficit

The Duarte Unified School District Board of Education approved the district's first interim financial report for the 2025–26 fiscal year by a 4-0 vote, endorsing staff's recommendation to certify the district as "positive" to the Los Angeles County Office of Education despite an overall $9 million deficit.

Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Tiffany Bell presented the report, which covers the July 1–Oct. 31 accounting period. Bell told trustees that adopted-budget assumptions presented in June showed roughly $52 million in revenues and $56 million in expenses, while the first interim projections show about $56 million in revenues against approximately $65 million in expenses. Bell said a $7 million settlement accounted for a large portion of the increase in unrestricted expenses and that, after accounting for that amount, the structural shortfall largely aligns with prior expectations.

"This $7,000,000 will go throughout this whole entire presentation," Bell…