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Beaumont Unified previews 2026-27 LCAP and preliminary budget, projects one-time spending and a 5.3% reserve
Summary
District staff presented the 2026-27 Local Control and Accountability Plan and a preliminary budget that assumes 2% enrollment growth, a projected $245.8 million in total revenue driven by LCFF and COLA, and one-time restricted spending that lowers restricted reserves from $23.8M to $10.4M in 2026-27.
Beaumont Unified's board heard a detailed Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) overview and a preliminary 2026-27 budget that officials said balances near-term program investments with a modest reserve.
"Our 25-26 revenues were $235.7 million; going into next year we're projecting an increase to $245.8 million," Nathan Chimera, the district's director of fiscal services, told the board during a 40-minute budget presentation. Chimera said the increase is driven chiefly by the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), an assumed 2% enrollment rise and the state's cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) used in the preliminary figures.
The presentation said the district begins the year with a projected general-fund ending balance of about $44.6 million and carries $1.736 million in LCAP carryover into next year. Chimera emphasized that much of the near-term spending is one-time and restricted: restricted funds are planned to drop from approximately $23.8 million in 2025-26 to $10.4 million in 2026-27 as the district spends down grants and capital allocations.
Why it matters: The LCAP links district goals (student achievement, access to programs, climate and engagement) to budget choices for families and state reviewers. Trustees said they wanted to balance investments in special education, English learners and equity-multiplier schools with maintaining a prudent reserve.
Key details and assumptions
- Unduplicated pupil percentage: about 71.4% (combines low-income, foster youth and English learners). - English learner population on the October census: ~6.6%. - Preliminary COLA in the assumptions: 2.87% for 2026-27 (Chimera noted a May revision to state budget may increase that number and the district will adjust the adopted budget accordingly). - Carryover: $1.736 million in LCAP carryover was listed in the slides shown to the board. - Reserve: the combined reserve for economic uncertainties was projected at about 5.3% for 2026-27 in the multi-year projection; district staff said the May budget revision is expected to increase revenue and help sustain reserves in future years.
On program priorities, the LCAP presentation highlighted two equity-multiplier schools (21st Century and Glen View High School) that qualify for additional state funds because of high non-stability and high SED percentages. The district also described targeted actions to support foster youth, adjustments to reclassification criteria for middle-school English learners (a Lexile benchmark), and investments in supplemental software and expanded-learning opportunities.
Board questions and next steps
Trustees asked for clarity on how the May revision's higher "super-COLA" and proposed special-education base-rate increases would be incorporated into the adopted budget. Chimera estimated the May revisions would add roughly $2 million for COLA and additional millions for special-education base increases, and said the adopted budget on June 9 will reflect updated state numbers.
The board held a brief public hearing on the preliminary budget (no public speakers) and will return on June 9 to adopt the budget with updated state figures.
Provenance: District LCAP overview and budget presentation (topic start: SEG 591; topic end: SEG 1570).
