School District Adopts $161 Million Budget

Source: Santa Barbara Unified School District

Santa Barbara Unified School District Board of Trustees adopted a $161 million budget for Fiscal Year 2017-18, an overall increase of approximately $1.4 million from last year. The budget reflects a commitment to exceed the State of California’s minimum recommended reserve requirement and to fully support the priorities of the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP). The LCAP is a three-year plan that describes how the district intends to meet annual goals for all students, with specific actions developed through community outreach to respond to state and local education priorities.

“The District’s adopted budget recognizes our employee’s dedication to improve practices that maintain quality education programs and services for our students,” said Superintendent Cary Matsuoka. “We made necessary cost reductions this year and recognize that continued reductions will be a priority in the years ahead. This means that over the next three years we will proceed with caution yet remain steadfast to our top priority – quality education for every child.”

District leadership began working last November to develop a fiscally sound budget for 2017-2018. This budget reflects challenges and opportunities the district will face over the next three years. Primarily, the budget indicates Santa Barbara Unified’s continued prioritization of its mission and purpose to provide quality instructional education. It also identifies decreases in school enrollment (based on future population forecasts), reductions of local revenue (expiration of Measures A and B), and loss of some federal funding. The budget’s demonstrated strength is its investment in employees, a reserve of all funds of approximately 9%, exceeding State standards, and spending of one-time state funds for planned investment in instructional technology and common core state standards.  Moving forward, the budget signifies Santa Barbara Unified’s commitment to fulfilling the community’s support for creating and maintaining 21st century learning environments and ensuring the equitable success of all students.

Board President Kate Parker expressed appreciation to Santa Barbara Unified employees, “Santa Barbara Unified School District staff have clearly demonstrated their commitment to equity and to improving practices that will lead to a high level of academic excellence for our students and our community. While we invest in preparing our students for life, learning, and work in the 21st century, we also recognize the Board’s commitment to encouraging continued collaborative work to reduce deficit spending and strengthen our reserves.”

To review the Fiscal Year 2017-2018 Adopted Budget documents from the June 27th School Board meeting, go to: https://santabarbara.novusagenda.com/AgendaPublic/. For more information about Santa Barbara Unified School District, go to: https://www.sbunified.org/.