Board approves 2025–26 first interim budget; projects $23.9M fund balance
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Summary
The Natomas Charter board approved the 2025–26 first interim budget after a presentation by the CFO showing a $942,000 revenue increase, $3.8 million in higher expenditures largely due to carryovers and salary changes, and a projected fund balance of about $23.9 million.
The Natomas Charter District board approved its 2025–26 first interim budget at the Dec. 8 meeting after a presentation from Chief Financial Officer Anita Schwab.
Schwab told the board that revenues increased by about $942,000, driven by updated enrollment projections (an increase of 27 students), LCFF adjustments, lottery funds and a new $558,000 student support/professional development block grant. Expenditures rose roughly $3.8 million, primarily carryover spending, salary and benefit adjustments (including a board‑approved one‑time salary item of about $486,000), substitute teacher contracts and capital outlay tied to the BlackRock campus expansion (about $1.7 million in capital outlay reported).
"Our bottom line is we're projecting a healthy fund balance, still at $23,900,000," Schwab said, noting reserve targets and multiyear projections that maintain positive cash positions across the three‑year outlook. She said some one‑time state funds will be spent down and that the district is planning how much of the new block grant to use this fiscal year versus stretching it across multiple years.
Board members asked for clarifications about the block grant and how discretionary the funding is; Schwab and staff said the money is meant to focus on student support, professional development and teacher retention, and that while the state labeled it discretionary, the department plans to align spending with the grant’s intended purposes.
A motion to approve the first interim budget was moved (mover not specified in the record) and seconded (Justin Garrett recorded as second). The roll‑call vote recorded Doug Gaffney, Justin Garrett, Sean (last name not specified in the transcript), Arsenio Mataka and Chair Maria Medherado as voting yes.
