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Jurupa Unified certifies first interim budget, administrators warn of multi‑year shortfall
Summary
Trustees certified the district's 2025‑26 first interim financial report after a presentation that projected declining enrollment and multiyear deficits, including a current‑year shortfall and a projected $16.4 million gap in 2028‑29 under present assumptions.
The Jurupa Unified School District Board on Dec. 9 certified its first interim financial report for 2025‑26 after administration warned of ongoing revenue pressures tied to declining enrollment and state funding assumptions.
In a presentation, Paula Ford, the district's fiscal lead, told the board that census day enrollment fell by 337 students year‑over‑year and average daily attendance was trending at about 93.5 percent. Ford said the district is budgeting for continued declines and is using a three‑year rolling average for ADA in current projections.
"Based on these assumptions," Ford said, "the district is projecting expenditures to exceed revenues in the current year by $28,500,000, of which approximately $15,000,000 is ongoing on the unrestricted side of the budget." She added that the district currently projects a $16,400,000 shortfall in the 2028‑29 school year under the plan presented.
Superintendent and secretary to the board Dr. Trent Hansen said staff will return with options and that the administration is identifying reductions and efficiencies. He also urged trustees and the community to advocate for state funding changes that would help districts with enrollment declines.
Trustees pressed staff on assumptions behind the projections. Trustee Bradford asked why the system remains tied to ADA instead of pure enrollment, and Ford replied that ADA‑based funding provides an incentive to increase attendance but acknowledged it complicates district forecasting.
Trustees discussed legislative advocacy to change the funding formula and mentioned outreach to local legislators and statewide groups such as the California School Boards Association.
After Q&A the board voted to certify the first interim report; the motion passed with the majority of trustees present (4 ayes, 1 absence). The certification obliges the district to submit the report to the county and the California Department of Education as required.
The board will review more detailed budget options at the second interim report in March and said staff will continue to monitor attendance, revenues and the governor's January budget proposal for updates.
