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District projects 2025–26 reserve improvement after proposed cuts, but savings depend on unsettled bargaining
Summary
Assistant Superintendent presented the district’s 2025–26 budget assumptions, projecting a 10.33% reserve if proposed $1.7M unrestricted reductions and projected revenues hold; presenters cautioned many figures depend on upcoming P2 property-tax updates and unresolved labor negotiations.
The Carpinteria Unified School District’s preliminary budget presentation on April 8 laid out assumptions that would produce a markedly improved reserve for 2025–26 — but only if proposed reductions and revenue projections hold and labor settlements do not add unbudgeted costs.
An Assistant Superintendent leading the budget review told the board the district used county P1 property‑tax projections showing 5% increases for 2024–25 and 2025–26, incorporated statutory pension and health‑and‑welfare rate increases (the latter adding about $422,000 next year), and proposed $1.6–$1.7 million in unrestricted reductions. Those reductions included cuts in professional services ($291,000), reductions in classified instructional aide positions ($460,000), and not filling five certificated FTEs through attrition (~$640,000). The district projected unrestricted revenue of about $27.5 million and unrestricted expenditures of $25.1 million, producing a projected 10.33% reserve for 2025–26 under those assumptions.
The presentation noted significant special‑education costs: for the current year the program received about $2.3 million in special‑education revenues while costing approximately $8.7 million to run, leaving a general‑fund contribution (encroachment) of roughly $6.4 million. The assistant superintendent said special‑education enrollment has risen to about 17% of the student population, higher than the statewide average cited in the presentation.
Board members asked about the timing of county property‑tax updates (P2 projections) and the degree to which the district’s scenarios depend on unresolved collective‑bargaining agreements. Several members emphasized the presentation showed fiscal options but that final reserves will shift once salary negotiations are concluded and new state or federal developments are known.
No budget adoption occurred at the April 8 meeting; the board was reminded of upcoming public hearings and the June adoption timeline for the LCAP and 2025–26 budget.
