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East Side Union High board certifies positive second-interim budget; staff outlines multiyear improvement
Summary
Associate Superintendent Tom Nguyen presented the district’s second interim financial report and the board voted to certify a “positive” budget, citing expense reductions and updated revenue assumptions even as multiyear deficits persist.
Associate Superintendent Tom Nguyen told the East Side Union High School District board on March 19 that the district will certify a positive second-interim budget for the three years submitted to the county.
Nguyen said the second interim covers revenues and expenditures through Jan. 31 and reflects three-month adjustments the district makes each quarter. He said updated assumptions — chiefly attendance, state cost-of-living adjustments and benefits projections — allowed the district to move from a qualified status at the first interim to a positive certification at the second interim.
At the meeting, Nguyen explained the assumptions that underlie the projection, including an updated average daily attendance projection of about 91.76% for the current year and preliminary benefit renewal estimates. "This is a moving target," he said, describing a baseline benefits assumption of 6% while noting a preliminary renewal figure for next year is about 3.5%.
Nguyen presented multiyear figures showing the district’s projected deficit narrowing over time: roughly $29.6 million for 2025–26 under the current forecast, an improved projection of about $10.3 million for 2026–27 and a further improvement to about $6.1 million for 2027–28 if current assumptions hold. He said the roughly $1 million improvement since December reflects expense reductions the board previously approved, but cautioned that many budget elements — including salary agreements and one-time funding — could change the outlook.
A trustee moved and another seconded approval of the second interim report. The board recorded the motion as passed. Following the vote, multiple trustees publicly thanked Nguyen for his presentation; one said, "You are superb in your presentation of data and in your strategic grasp," praising his handling of detailed questions.
The board will submit the certified report to the county for review; additional updates are expected in June and a final set of unaudited actuals will appear in September. Nguyen told trustees there is likely to be a 45-day update to account for potential one-time funding that is not yet finalized.
The third-quarter certification keeps the district in compliance with county reporting requirements and, for now, confirms it can meet statutory financial obligations for the three-year period under the stated assumptions.
