Antioch Unified projects $12.8 million deficit; board certifies first interim and asks for cuts and attendance gains

The Antioch Unified School District board on Tuesday approved its first interim budget report for the period ending Oct. 31, 2025, after district staff and consultants outlined a looming structural shortfall and proposed steps to maintain required reserves.

District financial staff reported a projected unrestricted general-fund deficit of $12,800,000 for 2025–26 and estimated an unrestricted ending balance of about $11,000,000, which is only slightly above the 3% reserve requirement. The presentation also showed a projected enrollment decline of roughly 96 students and an average daily attendance (ADA) projection of 13,688 for 2025–26.

"We spent more money than we received, which created a deficit spending of $12,800,000," the associate superintendent of business and operations told the board during the slide presentation. The report listed drivers including the expiration of one-time COVID and learning-recovery funding, cumulative salary increases over the last five years and rising medical and dental costs.

A consultant advising the board said the district has two primary levers: increase ADA and reduce expenditures. "We can either have the kids come to school more often or we can reduce our expenditures," the consultant said, urging both strategies and recommending the creation of a budget committee and a health-and-welfare review to examine benefit costs and provider options.

The consultant gave an illustrative target of $14.7 million in cost reductions needed over the multi-year projection to maintain the three-percent reserve and keep the district solvent under current assumptions.

Board members asked about the timing and potential program impacts of cuts; staff emphasized steps already underway, including attendance-recovery programs (after-school and Saturday-school options), targeted interventions and a planned public parent engagement schedule tied to the LCAP (Local Control and Accountability Plan).

After discussion, the board moved and approved a "positive" certification of the first interim report, meaning it expects to meet its obligations for the current and the following two fiscal years while working toward the identified reductions. Staff said the district will convene a budget committee and bring more refined recommendations back to the board.

Next steps announced included convening a budget work group, forming a health-and-welfare committee to evaluate benefit-cost options, and continuing outreach to boost attendance and ADA.