Auburn Union projects $25.44 million in revenue; district explains restricted‑fund deficit spending

The board received the district's first interim budget update for 2024–25, which projected total revenues of $25,439,000 and an estimated ending reserve of roughly $5.4 million. The CBO said the local control funding formula provides about 71% of the district's revenue and that salaries and benefits make up roughly 79.8% of unrestricted operating costs. On the presentation slides, staff stated: "Total, we're projecting $25,439,000 revenue for the year." The update explained that some deficit spending reflects one‑time restricted sources that must be spent (for example ESSER, ELOP and learning‑recovery funds) or returned to the state if not used.

Finance staff walked trustees through expenditure components — certificated salaries (about $6 million unrestricted; $8.2 million including restricted funds), classified salaries (~$3.3 million), employee benefits (~$4.7 million) and capital outlay (~$1.4 million) — and noted that monthly payroll averages about $3 million. Trustees asked detailed questions about the community‑schools planning grant and how restricted funds were being spent; staff said the California Department of Education advised the district it could spend planning‑grant dollars within the scope of the original application rather than returning them, and the board approved the first‑interim budget update on a unanimous vote.