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Superintendent outlines million‑dollar shortfall as board approves certified contract issuance
Summary
Superintendent briefed the board on budget projections showing a shortfall of a little over $1 million; the board authorized issuance of certified employment contracts under Arizona statute while tabling other contract categories pending final budget work.
The J O Combs Unified School District superintendent gave a broad budget briefing Wednesday that framed the district’s 2026–27 planning as a balancing exercise in the face of enrollment uncertainty and projected revenue shortfalls.
The superintendent (speaker 6) said staff are building the budget using applied‑economics enrollment projections and noted the district plans conservatively for a projected loss of 68 Average Daily Membership (ADM), which administration estimated would translate into "a little over $1,000,000" in reduced revenue. He said the district’s projection includes a statutory 2% inflation factor and that a 2% employee salary increase would cost roughly $735,000; he also cited an estimated 12% increase in health premium costs (about $200,000) as an example of a variable that could change the final recommendation.
Given those moving parts, the board voted to authorize issuance of 2026–27 certified teacher contracts to meet Arizona statutory deadlines (motions referenced Arizona Revised Statutes during the meeting) while tabling classified and administrative contract categories pending further budget work. Committee member (speaker 4) moved the motion that also allowed HR to make minor corrections to the contract list; the motion carried 5–0.
Administration said it will include reduction‑in‑force language in contracts to preserve the district’s statutory flexibility if state funding changes before the start of the contract year. The superintendent told the board staff would return at the April meeting with budget recommendations and tighter numbers once additional health‑insurance bids and other figures are finalized.
Board members asked questions about contingency levels, staffing models, and program impacts; administration highlighted that a typical contingency the board has used is $1,000,000 and emphasized trade‑offs between salary increases, staffing levels, and program offerings.
The board directed staff to continue refining the 2026–27 budget and to present options at the April 8 meeting.
