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Board briefed on $9.5M projected shortfall and two compensation scenarios tied to a voter-approved tax-rate election
Summary
Staff presented a FY26–27 forecast showing a roughly $9.5 million shortfall, proposed a one-time retention payout funded from fund balance if a VADER (voter-approved tax rate) does not pass, and modeled raises (3%/5%) if the VADER succeeds; staff estimated the VADER would cost about $13 per household under current law.
Dina Singer presented the district’s FY26–27 budget forecast and compensation modeling, saying new assumptions increased the projected shortfall to approximately $9.5 million and outlining two compensation paths for staff retention.
“Without a voter-approved tax rate election, we’re proposing offering a one-time retention pay of $1,000 for full-time staff and $500 for part-time staff,” Singer said, explaining the payout would come from fund balance and be paid in January due to cash-flow timing. Singer said that option would use roughly $2 million of fund balance and reduce reserves if implemented.
Singer also presented a scenario where a successful VADER would allow a 3% pay increase for teachers, librarians, nurses and admin professionals and a 5% increase for paraprofessionals and would invest about $4 million into compensation. In that scenario the staff model produced an early $6.2 million surplus in FY26–27, which could be used for one-time purchases or to restore prior-year deficits.
On likely community impact, Singer estimated the per-household effect under current law at about $13 per month, but she cautioned that pending state legislative changes could reduce that figure. Trustees discussed outreach and the tight timeline to call an election (the board would need to adopt language and call the election in early August for a November ballot) and asked staff to prepare both a lower contingent budget and the contingent language if the VADER is adopted.
Next steps: staff will refine enrollment and revenue assumptions, finalize contingent budget language for an August board action if needed, and lead voter-education outreach in coordination with the board.
