Martinez Unified board approves $2.5 million in 2026–27 budget reductions, preserves some student services

The Martinez Unified School District Board of Education voted Feb. 9 to adopt a 2026–27 budget‑reduction proposal that trims roughly $2,503,650 from the district’s spending while maintaining a required 3% reserve.

Chief Business Officer Andy Cannon told the board the package reflects the board’s prior direction and is the third iteration of reductions presented since late January. The proposal includes about $1,020,000 in reductions across contracts, grants and operations; approximately $360,000 in classified staff reductions; just over $1,000,000 in certificated reductions; and administrative reductions the district recorded in the presentation. Cannon said increasing an OPEB transfer to $420,000 was part of reaching the total.

Why it matters: the district’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) allocations are tied to average daily attendance (ADA) and multi‑year projections. Cannon said the district now projects a higher P‑2 ADA and affirmed the district can maintain positive certification while meeting the 3% reserve requirement for the third year out.

Union and public response: Stephanie Wentz, president of CSEA Chapter 99, urged trustees not to prioritize optics over people, saying the district currently holds “more than 4,100,000.0 in reserves, over 2,200,000.0 above what is required,” and that proposed cuts — including roughly $360,000 from classified staff — would destabilize classrooms and community trust. Wentz asked the board to pair short‑term relief with responsible long‑term planning and to use reserves to protect jobs when feasible.

Andy Cannon and trustees responded that state rules and the district’s multi‑year budget obligations constrain how reserves can be used. Cannon reiterated that the budget must remain balanced and that the reduction list does not include potential salary increases the board will consider at a later meeting.

Board debate and priorities: Trustees and members of the public raised concerns about cuts to specialized programs, including MTSS mental‑health counselors and the Vicente Briones alternative campus, which trustees described as serving vulnerable students and contributing to graduation rates and ADA. Several trustees said they had prioritized preserving student‑facing positions where possible and asked staff to pursue billing, grants and other revenue opportunities to lessen future cuts.

What passed: A motion to approve the 2026–27 budget reduction proposal was moved and seconded and carried; the board recorded voices in favor and the student representative voted aye. The district plans to include updated ADA figures in the second‑interim budget report on March 9.

Next steps: The board said staff will continue to refine the budget and return with the second‑interim report in March; trustees asked for follow‑ups on MTSS billing, special‑education projection changes, and options to address restricted‑fund reductions.

Quotes

“We began looking at this at our January 26 meeting … this revised proposal reflects the board’s direction,” Andy Cannon said while presenting the reductions.

“We are not asking you to be reckless. We are asking you to be courageous,” Stephanie Wentz said, urging the board to use reserves to protect staff and students.

The meeting record: the budget reduction presentation and discussion begin at SEG 890 and conclude at SEG 1209; the motion to approve was moved at SEG 1201 and the vote recorded immediately after that motion.