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The Pleasanton Unified School District Board of Trustees will be going over revisions of the district’s previously adopted 2025-26 budget following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s passage of the State Budget Act last month during Thursday’s board meeting.
According to the Aug. 14 staff report, the 2025-26 “45-Day Budget Revisions” includes a positive funding balance for this school year, no projected deficit and continued plans to ensure the district’s fiscal stability.
Per education code, PUSD is required to publicize any revisions in revenues and expenditures made to its annual budget no later than 45 days after the governor signs the annual State Budget Act, which Newsom did on June 27, in order to reflect the funding made available to the district.
PUSD shared the revisions to its website prior to Thursday’s board meeting discussion.
According to the staff report, the district’s 2025-26 adopted budget was previously developed under the assumptions of the governor’s May Revise and other recommendations. However, the final enacted state budget for 2025-26 now includes additional one-time discretionary funds, restricted grant funding and other additional details that were not included in the May Revise.
All of these updates, along with other changes, are now included in the district’s latest revisions.
“The 45-Day Budget Revisions include these additional state revenues (one-time), local revenue adjustments, expenditure adjustments resulting from hiring freezes, special education expenditures adjustments and the use of restricted funds to reduce unrestricted expenditures,” the staff report states.
Thanks to the budget revisions, PUSD will see a revenue increase of over $3.5 million as well as an expenditure decrease of just under $2.2 million. There will also be a reduction in unrestricted contribution to special education of about $1.76 million.
“Based on these changes, the revised general fund operating deficit for 25/26 will be -$1,670,270 and the net projected end funding balance for 25/26 is $281,252,” the staff report states.
However, staff noted that even though this update to the budget is a significant improvement, the district’s reserve funds are still below the required 3% level. The plan to address this issue includes transferring money from the recent sale of the Vineyard property to the General Fund, which will be finalized through board action later this month.
Staff added that moving forward, the district will still need to pursue ongoing reductions and new revenues in order to ensure a balanced budget.
“The 2025/26 Budget relies on a large amount of one-time funds that will go away in 2026/27,” according to the staff report. “Starting in late August, the District will engage in a process that will include a Budget Advisory Committee, staff/community engagement, and Board engagement to determine the reductions and/or new revenue options.”
Staff will not be looking for any action from the board during Thursday’s discussion. The changes from the recent budget revisions along with updates from the 2024-25 unaudited actuals and any other changes to the 2025-26 budget will be included in the first interim budget report, which will be presented to the board for approval on Dec. 11.
The board’s open-session meeting is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Thursday (Aug. 14). Read the full agenda here.
In other business:
* Superintendent Maurice Ghysels will be presenting his goals for the 2025-26 school year to the school board, which he developed “in alignment with the Board’s vision and priorities,” according to the agenda report.
“These goals reflect the district’s commitment to academic achievement, inclusive culture, and long-term fiscal stability,” the staff report states. “The presentation will highlight key areas of focus for the year, framed around students, culture, and resources.”
The specific goals were not included in the staff report.
* During its closed session portion of the meeting, the board will be going over several personnel matters including the public employment of a vice principal at Lydiksen Elementary School — the school’s last vice principal recently took a principal position in Concord.
The board will also be discussing the employment of a project manager for the facilities and construction department, the employment of a coordinator for assessment and special projects and the trustees will also be evaluating Ghysels as superintendent.
If the budget still is in peril, with reserves below 3%, then why were so many new hires posted in the agenda (Personnel Doc) with most positions not in the classroom?