Board hears budget outlook: governor’s COLA, possible special‑education boost and discretionary block grant noted

Windsor Unified trustees held a public hearing on the district’s adopted 2026–27 budget and the 2024–27 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). Chief financial officer Austin walked the board and audience through the governor’s budget highlights and how they would affect the district if enacted.

Key items Austin flagged included a statutory cost‑of‑living adjustment (COLA) of 2.87%, a state proposal to substantially increase special‑education funding (the governor’s document proposes a percentage increase that Austin estimated could translate to roughly $1.6 million ongoing for Windsor if fully funded and allocated through the special‑education local plan area), and a proposed discretionary student support block grant estimated in the governor’s materials at roughly $4.3 million for the district. Austin described the COLA and an ongoing 1.44% LCFF augmentation that the governor tied to expanded pregnancy disability leave as other notable items.

Austin noted uncertainty: the governor’s proposals were subject to legislative action and the district conservatively modeled budgets without counting contingent increases until state action is finalized. He also noted the district’s reserve levels remain above the 3–5% benchmarks in the adopted projection. A parent asked staff to re‑post some budget attachments that had failed to open on the public packet; staff said they would re‑post the materials and provide follow‑up documentation.

The board opened the hearing for public comment; speakers thanked staff for the financial detail and requested copies of the multi‑year projections. Trustees did not take a final vote at the hearing (the hearing will be followed by a formal adoption step at the June 22 board meeting). Staff said they will return with final budget adoption materials once the state budget is certified.