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Martinez Unified projects positive 2026—7 finances and restores several staff positions
Summary
After a staff presentation showing a brighter 2026—7 outlook driven by a COLA augmentation and a one-time block grant, the board voted to restore two MTSS counselor positions to ongoing funding and to reinstate an MJHS attendance technician and two 12-month administrative secretary positions.
The Martinez Unified School District board on June 8 heard a budget presentation showing improved multi-year projections and voted to reverse several cuts made earlier this year.
Chief Business Officer Andy Cannon told the board the districts enrollment is beginning to flatten at about 3,828 students and that the states statutory cost-of-living adjustment of 2.87% plus an additional 1.44% augmentation together make the revenue picture "positive." He also said the district is projecting roughly $3.4 million in one-time block-grant money, and highlighted a 43% increase in state special education funding that staff estimate will provide about $1,340 per special-education student next year (about a $400 per-pupil increase).
"Overall, we have a very financially stable proposition," Cannon said, urging caution about treating one-time funds as ongoing revenue.
Board members and staff discussed how the new revenue relates to program priorities and ongoing costs such as salary increases and parental-leave obligations. Superintendent Janelle Ayat recommended using a portion of the new, ongoing funding to shore up previously reduced positions that the board had targeted during earlier budget reductions.
The board approved moving two MTSS counselor FTEs from restricted, one-time funding into the general fund to provide greater stability for mental-health services, restore the Martinez Junior High School attendance technician position to 1.0 FTE, and return two administrative secretary positions to 12-month status. A public commenter supported the restorations as aligned with community priorities.
Board members emphasized that while revenue is up, the district must remain conservative. Cannon warned the districts projections do not include any unspecified salary increases and that one-time dollars should be used for one-time needs.
The budget will return for formal adoption at the June 22 board meeting after the state Legislature finalizes the state budget by its mid-June deadline.
