Riverside Unified board adopts second interim budget, cites enrollment decline and conservative planning

Assistant Superintendent (Business Services) Miss Power presented the district's 2024–25 second interim report, summarizing updated revenue and expenditure assumptions as of January 31, 2025. Key points included a district enrollment of 38,032 (an 88‑student decline from previous reports), updated COLA assumptions, an anticipated multi‑year decline in enrollment, and higher than anticipated interest earnings that modestly improved the unrestricted forecast.

Miss Power highlighted a proposed one‑time "student support and discretionary" block grant in the governor's January budget that could bring approximately $12 million for Riverside Unified if enacted; she also described uncertainties about federal revenues. The district projects net increases in fund balance driven by timing and one‑time funds and reported a projected spend‑down in restricted funds tied to multi‑year grant schedules.

Board members praised the staff's conservative planning and asked for continued focus on tightening expenditures in light of projected enrollment declines and bargaining uncertainty. The board unanimously adopted the positive certification for the second interim report.

Importance: The second interim shapes how the district plans staffing, one‑time projects (shade structures, Anna Education Center, staff tech), and reserves heading into the May revise and final state budget.

Quote: "We're going to continue to align the budgets, tighten up where we can with minimal impact," Miss Power said.

Next steps: Staff will monitor the governor's May revise and report back as state and federal budget details firm up.