Baboquivari Unified board approves FY 2024-25 budget, staff supplements and retention incentives

Baboquivari Unified School District's governing board approved its annual expenditure budget for fiscal year 2024-25 and a package of personnel and financial items at its July 9 meeting.

The board moved to adopt the district's FY2024-25 expenditure budget after administration clarified a title-year discrepancy; the motion, made by Anamarie Stevens and seconded by Kathleen Vance, carried as recorded. Finance presenter Clementina Carla told the board the district's fiscal 2025 maintenance and operations revenue control limit is projected at $8.8 million, carryforward from FY24 is projected at $3.5 million and total general budget limit projections are roughly $13 million. Carla also noted a projected reduction in federal grant funding from about $21.9 million in FY24 to about $12 million in FY25 as ESSER funds expire.

The budget adoption included a procedural note that the title for the action item would be corrected to reflect FY24-25; the board proceeded with a contingent approval rather than delaying final action.

Why it matters: the budget sets the district's spending limits for the coming school year and reflects a notable reduction in federal grant support, which administration and board members said affects planning for program and transportation costs.

Board-approved package and votes - Policy amendment (second reading): approved unanimously (motion by Anamarie Stevens; second Kathleen Vance). - Annual expenditure budget for fiscal year 2024-25: motion by Anamarie Stevens, second by Kathleen Vance; recorded as carried. - Professional staff supplemental schedule (FY24-25): approved. - Support staff supplemental schedule (FY24-25): approved. - Recruitment and retention signing incentives: approved (recorded 4 yes, 1 no after discussion of a tiered structure to offset prior raises). - Banking services and signer changes (Wells Fargo and Pima County treasurer as fiscal agent; remove Christina Rago; add superintendent as designated signer): approved. - ASBA delegate and alternate for Sept. 7, 2024: approved.

Board discussion and context Clementina Carla said district staff must present an updated budget using revised state budget forms before Sept. 15 to comply with statute and that the district's fiscal projections reflect both state allocations and federal grant changes. She told the board that Prop 123 is currently "expected to sunset this fiscal year unless the legislation changes," a factor staff said will affect long-term projections.

Several board members pressed for additional context and trend data. "Would you mind compiling at least a five‑year [trend] for all of us," a board member asked, noting the district should see multi-year patterns before making staffing or program commitments. Administration agreed to return with five‑year history and projections.

On incentives, administration explained a tiered signing/retention bonus intended to offset differences among employees who received a 5% raise this year versus those who received 2%. Some board members said they preferred a uniform approach; others supported the targeted offsets to make awards equitable across groups.

What's next Administration will bring updated budget forms and the requested five‑year trend analysis back to the board before the statutory deadline. The board also asked that handbook language about cameras and artificial intelligence be reviewed and presented for clarity at a future meeting.

Ending note: The motions on financial and personnel items were taken in sequence and recorded in the meeting minutes; the recruitment/retention incentive passed with a recorded dissent.