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CJUSD reports near $1 million worse-than-expected deficit; officials outline multi‑year plan
Summary
Colton Joint Unified presented un‑audited actuals showing revenues $3.2M above projections and expenditures $4.1M above, producing a roughly $976,000 larger deficit than expected. District leaders warned of multi‑year risks tied to declining enrollment and outlined steps to align spending to revenue.
Colton Joint Unified School District officials told the Board of Education on Sept. 18 that the district closed the 2024–25 fiscal year with revenues about $3.2 million higher than projected but expenditures roughly $4.1 million higher, resulting in a net deficit approximately $976,000 worse than the spring projections.
Assistant Superintendent Sarabia, who presented the un‑audited actuals, said the revenue upside reflected fair‑market adjustments under GASB accounting and stronger interest earnings, while higher spending was driven by salaries and benefits reclassified from restricted funds as well as capital and technology purchases.
The figures leave the district with a fund balance Sarabia described as “strong” — about $92.6 million — but board members and staff emphasized that much of that balance reflects one‑time funds used to smooth operations following COVID‑era allocations.
“Those one‑time dollars from 2020 are gone,” Superintendent Dr. Miranda said during questions from the board. She and other staff warned that without changes the district’s deficit could grow; staff presented an illustrative projection showing a larger multi‑year shortfall that could approach tens of millions if not addressed.
Board members asked for clarification about whether the gap was structural or one‑time. Finance staff said they are working on a budget‑stability plan that would include shifting eligible positions to restricted funding, reviewing capital and service investments, and pursuing enrollment and attendance gains to preserve revenue tied to average daily attendance (ADA).
Dr. Miranda noted the district’s first‑month ADA improved to 94.2 percent, which she said helps revenue because state funding follows student attendance. “A one‑percentage point increase in ADA can mean more than a million dollars,” she said.
Board President Dan Flores and other trustees asked staff to prioritize protecting core student services while pursuing expense alignment. The district said it will present more detailed proposals this fall, including the independent audit and the first interim report for 2025–26.
What's next: staff will prepare the independent audit, bring a budget‑stability plan to the board and include multi‑year projections and proposed expense realignments in future hearings. The board did not take a vote specifically on the audit presentation; it approved consent items later in the meeting.
