Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Certification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Pasadena Unified board approves 2026 budget certification, warns one‑time state funds won’t cover ongoing costs
Summary
After a multi‑year budget presentation, the Pasadena Unified School District board voted 7–0 to certify its 2026 report; members urged caution about relying on one‑time state funds and highlighted enrollment declines and special‑education cost pressures.
The Pasadena Unified School District board voted 7–0 on Feb. 26 to certify the district’s 2026 budget projections after receiving a multi‑year financial presentation and debating risks tied to one‑time state funding and falling enrollment.
The district presenter walked the board through the multi‑year projection, explaining the general‑fund and restricted‑fund outlook and noting that some recovery and one‑time funds (including fire‑related allocations) are not included in the baseline projections. The presenter said staff will continue to refine numbers and coordinate a stabilization plan with the county ahead of a formal February 26 resolution.
Board members pressed staff on two recurring concerns: declining average daily attendance (ADA) and the fiscal limits of one‑time state and federal grants. “Todo eso es dinero de una sola vez, entonces no nos ayuda con nuestros gastos,” a board member said, arguing that single‑year funds do not solve structural deficits. Members also asked for clearer timing on county recovery funds and cautioned against restoring positions until the district has firmer revenue projections.
The board discussed steps to manage rising special‑education costs, including tightening exception reviews and documenting services so the district can preserve service levels while reducing fiscal risk. Presenters highlighted ongoing reviews of special‑education charges and said some operational savings have been found and more monitoring is underway.
A motion to approve certification was made and, per the roll call read aloud by meeting staff, the votes were: Student member — yes; Jennifer Holly — yes; Scar Harden — yes; Kimber Kenny — yes; Richardson Bailey — yes; Doctora Yerma Velázquez — yes; Tina Frederick — yes. The motion passed 7–0. The meeting adjourned shortly after the vote.
Next steps: staff will continue to update the MYP and bring final resolution language as indicated, with additional financial clarity expected in the May–June review cycle.
