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Board reviews LCAP draft and proposed 2026–27 budget; trustees press district over deficit projections
Summary
Trustees received a draft Local Control Accountability Plan and a proposed 2026–27 budget that projects multi‑year deficits; trustees asked detailed questions about metrics, unduplicated pupil counts, and reserve strategy while staff described allocations including a $131 million budget figure for LCAP allocations and equity multipliers.
The Moreno Valley Unified School District held public hearings on its draft Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP) and the proposed 2026–27 budget, including extensive staff presentations and trustee questioning about metrics, funding sources and multi‑year projections.
Miss Brown presented the LCAP draft as the final year of a three‑year plan, explaining alignment of site improvement plans with five district goals and the role of the LCAP in demonstrating how goals, actions and expenditures support student outcomes. She described components including the annual update, budget overview for parents, and an "equity multiplier" that channels additional funds to alternative education sites; she said the district’s LCAP and related materials would be finalized for board action on June 23 and then submitted to the county for approval.
During the LCAP discussion trustees asked how the state’s CALPADS reports determine the unduplicated pupil count and how funds move when actions are consolidated across goals. Miss Brown and staff explained the 1.17 CALPADS reporting and said unduplicated figures remain visible even when funding is consolidated under other goals.
On the budget, Mrs. Susanna Lopez reviewed revenue and expenditure assumptions, including statutory COLA projections (2.87% for 2026–27 in the presentation), and described how enrollment and average daily attendance drive revenues. She stressed the district’s large salary and benefits burden (roughly 88% of unrestricted spending on compensation) and illustrated employer retirement costs (STRS and PERS percentages). Mrs. Lopez said the district’s combined budget included one‑time grants and LREBG carryover; she noted an LCAP total figure and explained the equity multiplier and remaining LREBG balances.
Trustees pressed staff on multi‑year projections that show planned deficit spending (the presentation projected a $12.3 million deficit in 2026–27 and larger deficits in later years absent changes). One trustee said, "I do not like deficit spending," urging a budget that lives within means; others sought detail on assumptions such as step and column costs, participation penalties that affect distance‑from‑standard metrics, and how the district will monitor reserves.
What happened next: Staff said they will continue budget monitoring and return to the board with updates; if there are material changes from the state budget staff indicated they would present a statutory 45‑day budget update as required.
Why it matters: The LCAP and the general fund budget set priorities and the resources that will be available for core programs, special education, and school supports. Projected deficits and reliance on one‑time funds were raised as concerns by trustees.
Next steps: The district plans to present the final LCAP and adopt the 2026–27 budget at the June 23 board meeting, then submit the LCAP to the county office for approval; staff will report back on budget changes after any state action and at interim reporting periods.
