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West Contra Costa Unified board certifies ‘qualified’ second interim, authorizes $19.4 million draw from reserves
Summary
The board accepted a qualified second interim financial report and approved a $19.4 million transfer from Fund 17 to cover a projected 2025–26 operating deficit; trustees and the public debated whether cuts and one‑time reserves will address longer‑term declines tied to lower attendance and possible parcel tax expiration.
The West Contra Costa Unified School District board on March 11 accepted a second interim financial report that staff certified as "qualified" and voted to transfer $19.4 million from Fund 17 to the general fund to cover an operating deficit in 2025–26.
Acting Associate Superintendent of Business Services Jeff Carter told the board the district is projecting an operating deficit "of just about $19,000,000" for 2025–26 and that the projection reflects changes since the first interim, including a tentative salary agreement with retroactive pay and a roughly 935‑pupil decrease in average daily attendance (ADA) that followed a December work stoppage. Carter said the district can meet the required 3% reserve for the next two years only by using Fund 17 one‑time reserves and by implementing the board's fiscal solvency plan.
The report showed higher combined revenues since the first interim driven by restricted and federal grants, but staffing and negotiated salary increases increased expenditures; Carter said restricted balances will decline over the three‑year projection and that Fund 17 and suspended transfers from Fund 71 are being used to smooth the gap. "We have an operating deficit of just about $19,000,000," Carter said during his presentation.
Trustees pressed staff for details on assumptions, including how ADA is calculated and when strike‑related attendance declines will affect revenue. Trustee Rekler asked whether the governor's budget proposals would be reflected in a future interim; Carter said the district will not rely on proposed state revenues until they are certain and advised a third interim will follow. Trustee Smith Folds warned of lasting program impacts, saying, "We're going to have to continue to cut until we make plans and stick with them to pay ourselves back." Trustee Gonzales Hoy urged board action to pursue state relief and to pursue attendance recovery strategies.
Public commenters offered divergent views. Francisco Ortiz, speaking during the Fund 17 transfer discussion, criticized the district's approach and told the board, "This is how you cook the numbers." Other commenters—teachers, parents and students—urged the board to protect programs that attract and keep students, such as music and electives, and warned that cuts may depress ADA further.
After discussion, the board voted to accept the second interim as certified and approved resolution 2526‑63 authorizing the $19.4 million transfer from Fund 17 to address the current‑year deficit.
What happens next: staff will implement the fiscal solvency reductions in the multiyear projection and return to the board with updates at the required third interim and at future budget workshops. Trustees also discussed pursuing a parcel‑tax renewal and attendance campaigns to stabilize revenue.
Votes at a glance: Resolution 2526‑62 (Women’s History Month) — approved; Workforce housing support letter — approved; Second interim (accept) — approved (certified as qualified); Resolution 2526‑63 (Fund 17 transfer of $19.4M) — approved; MOU with United Teachers (retirement incentive for impacted employees) — approved; Contracts C9/C10 (Genetec software and server/hardware) — approved.
