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J O Combs Unified School District adopts $30.17 million M&O budget, authorizes subsection spending flexibility
Summary
The J O Combs Unified School District governing board adopted the FY 2026–27 expenditure budget — $30,172,612 for maintenance and operations and $2,200,398 in unrestricted capital — and authorized flexibility under ARS 15-905(g) to move funds among M&O subsections so long as total M&O spending does not exceed the adopted amount.
The J O Combs Unified School District governing board on a unanimous 4–0 vote adopted its FY 2026–27 expenditure budget and authorized limited flexibility to move money among maintenance and operations (M&O) subsections.
Presenter (speaker 8) told the board the budget was prepared using a projected average daily membership (ADM) of 3,470.0323, about 60.60 ADM lower than the prior year. The M&O budget is listed at $30,172,612 and the district’s unrestricted capital allocation at $2,200,398. "Upon your approval tonight, we will get this uploaded to the ADE website and our Combs website so that we remain in compliance with the statutory deadlines," the presenter said.
Board members voted to adopt the budget on a motion by Committee member (speaker 5), seconded by Committee member (speaker 2). After the budget vote, the board considered a companion motion to authorize the superintendent to expend monies budgeted within the M&O section across subsections under ARS 15-905(g). The presenter explained that authority would permit transfers among the 135 line items on page 1 of the budget, provided the total M&O fund spending does not exceed the adopted total. "In nonlegal terms, I'm asking to not be restricted to the specific amount identified in any one of the 135 cells ... as long as I do not exceed the total budget," the presenter said.
The board approved that authorization 4–0. The presenter and board members agreed that any significant shift in spending patterns would be brought back as a revised budget for board review and adoption.
Why it matters: The ADM assumptions drive state funding; the board’s authorization under ARS 15-905(g) gives the superintendent limited operational flexibility to respond to changing needs during the year without breaching total-authority limits. The board adopted the budget to satisfy the statutory deadline required by ARS 15-905.
What’s next: The district will upload the approved budget to the Arizona Department of Education website and the district site. Board members said staff will return if large reallocations are needed.
