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Board issues positive certification of second interim budget despite multiyear deficits
Summary
After a presentation on enrollment, revenue shifts and rising special‑education costs, the board voted to issue a positive certification that the district can meet its obligations for 2025–26 and the next two years; staff detailed a $59 million 2025–26 deficit spending figure in multiyear projections.
The Santa Maria‑Bonita School District board voted to issue a positive certification for its 2025–26 second interim budget after a detailed presentation from district finance staff.
Mister King, presenting the second interim update required by AB 1200, said the district's estimated funded average daily attendance (ADA) is 16,003.55 — a decline of a little over 10 ADA from prior projections, split between district and county‑operated programs. He reported an unduplicated pupil percentage decrease from 94.32% to 93.85%.
On revenue, King said Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) revenue fell by about $1,000,000 as a result of the lower ADA and the change in unduplicated percentage. Federal revenue increased by roughly $1,700,000, primarily from an additional Title I allocation of about $1,600,000, and local revenue rose in part because of increased interest income. He said the district's COLA remained at 2.3%.
On the expenditure side, King highlighted a negotiated salary increase for classified staff of roughly $2.2 million and a more than $10 million increase in contracted special‑education services. To reflect likely vacancy timelines, the presentation removed roughly $5.5 million in estimated salaries for vacancies and trimmed several vacant resource and OT positions (about $1.3 million).
King summarized the district's unrestricted/restricted balances and said the second interim shows total deficit spending of approximately $59,000,000 for 2025–26, with multiyear projections that reduce the deficit to about $20.9 million and then increase to about $26.4 million in later years as one‑time revenues expire and planned adoptions proceed. He said the district will present an adoption budget following the state's May revise process.
Board members moved and seconded a motion to certify the second interim report as presented. On a roll call vote the motion passed; the board recorded the certification and staff said they would return with the adoption budget in June.
The presentation and vote establish the district's required certification to the Santa Barbara County Superintendent of Schools and do not by themselves change staffing or program decisions.
