Natomas Unified proposes $228.9M budget, projects $8.2M in reductions and deficits

At a public hearing June 10, Associate Superintendent/CBO Heather Brown reviewed the districts proposed 2026–27 budget and the multi‑year financial projection. Brown told the board that total general fund revenues are projected at approximately $217,100,000 and total general fund expenditures at approximately $228,900,000, with the district projecting an $8,300,000 unrestricted deficit for 2026–27.

Brown said the district expects to maintain the state‑required 3% reserve plus an additional 6% reserve under board policy (a combined 9%), describing that reserve as the equivalent of "about a month and 0.5 of payroll." She also summarized that the governor's May revision increased COLA to 4.31% (including a 1.44% "super COLA") and noted state increases in special education funding (about $422 per ADA).

Trustees asked whether the district is using one‑time funds to support ongoing costs (for example, using rounds of the student support block grant to cover long‑term substitute rates). Trustee Dasek warned against building ongoing expenses on one‑time funding, noting the risk when those funds evaporate in later years; Brown said staff identified roughly $8.2 million in reductions and operational efficiencies and will continue to refine multiyear projections.

Brown also outlined planning assumptions — enrollment at 10,867 (excluding charters), average daily attendance projected at 10,020 (92.33%), and an unduplicated pupil percentage of 67.59 — and described committed stabilization reserves of about $28.3 million. She said staff will return with the formal budget adoption at the June 24 meeting.

The public hearing on the budget closed after trustee remarks and public comments urging alignment of spending with student academic outcomes.