Washington Elementary board adopts revised FY26 budget with minor adjustments

The Washington Elementary School District governing board unanimously adopted a revised fiscal year 2026 budget at its May 14 regular meeting.

District official Mr. O'Brien said the May revision is legally permitted through May 15 and that the numbers presented were close to final: "we can do this by law until May 15th. So, we're right on the deadline," he told the board. He said the district's average daily membership (ADM) decreased by 51 students while the district's revenue control limit (RCL) rose by about 856, driven largely by updated Group B weight calculations (including free/reduced‑price meal counts and special‑education weights) and recent Prop 123 adjustments from the Arizona Department of Education (ADE).

Why it matters: the revised maintenance and operations (M&O) budget increased by just under $600,000 in the May revision, the district said, while overall the district remains about $5 million lower in total than the prior year — a gap staff said they had anticipated during earlier planning. Mr. O'Brien told the board that capital figures did not change in this revision because capital allocations use prior‑year ADM.

Board action and next steps: After the presentation and a brief opportunity for questions, a motion to accept the revised FY26 budget was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. Board members were directed to the state budget forms included in the packet for the full line‑item details. Mr. O'Brien said final federal/state reporting after the July ADM reconciliation could still produce small changes in next year’s AFR (Annual Financial Report).

The board took no further action beyond adoption and moved on to the next agenda items. The district staff will file required revisions with ADE and continue to monitor ADM and RCL figures into the summer.