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Jurupa Unified certifies second interim budget; trustees warned of enrollment decline and possible staffing reductions
Summary
After a detailed presentation by CFO Paula Ford, the board certified the district's second interim financial report. Staff projected an $81.7 million ending fund balance, a continued enrollment decline (328 this year; projected 428 next year) and options to address deficit spending including attrition and other rightsizing measures.
The Jurupa Unified School District board voted to certify its second interim financial report after a presentation from Chief Financial Officer Paula Ford that outlined current-year revenues and multiyear projections.
Ford told trustees the district projects a combined ending fund balance of $81.7 million for 2025-26, including $54 million unrestricted and $27.7 million restricted. She said state revenues for Prop 98 have come in higher than the governor projected during the January budget but cautioned that the governor's proposal to move $5.6 billion on the Prop 98 schedule could reduce or delay school funding.
On enrollment, Ford reported a year-over-year decline of 328 students for 2025-26 and a projected decline of 428 students for 2026-27. "So it's a 3% decline," Ford said, and the district is planning to pursue multiple responses: increasing attendance capture, using attrition to reduce costs, evaluating school-site right-sizing (boundary changes, repurposing/closing sites) and seeking one-time revenue opportunities.
Board members asked for clarifications about special-education costs and pension contributions. Ford said the district currently transfers roughly $35 million to $38 million from the general fund to cover special-education costs. The board also discussed the limitations of COLA versus effective increases when enrollment is falling; Ford noted the statutory COLA of 2.41% but an effective district COLA of 0.26% this year because of enrollment decline.
Trustees and staff said they will continue efforts to avoid reductions in force through attrition and program changes but acknowledged that a sustained decline could eventually require harder staffing decisions. The board certified the report by recorded vote; the clerk announced the certification passed 3-0 with one board member absent and one vacant seat.
Next steps: staff will monitor the May state budget revision, return to the board with updates, and pursue strategies to capture additional attendance and one-time funding while minimizing personnel impacts.
