District projects 14% reserve for 2026-27 before salary settlements; public raises concerns about legal costs and part-time benefits

The Carpinteria Unified School District presented the first reading of its 2026-27 proposed budget at the June 9 board meeting, including multi-year projections, reserve assumptions and specific budget drivers.

Key points from the presentation: Assistant Superintendent for Business Services Jason CF told trustees the district projects property-tax growth, an increase in health and welfare costs, and a projected unrestricted ending fund balance of about $6 million for 2026-27 (a roughly 14% reserve) under current assumptions. He repeatedly cautioned that the projection does not include negotiated salary increases for 2026-27 and that any settlement would reduce the reserve percentage. The budget also includes a $100,000 placeholder to begin budgeting for the new state-required 14‑week paid pregnancy disability leave, which basic‑aid/community‑funded districts do not receive as an LCFF superCOLA.

Special education and staffing: Staff reported that special education revenues are expected to rise for 2026-27, which would reduce the district's general‑fund contribution to special education from the current estimated $5.6 million down toward a projected $4.9 million next year. The budget highlights ongoing reliance on contracted staffing agencies for difficult-to-fill roles (behavior analysts, speech/language therapists, nurses), which appears in the services and operating line.

Public reaction at the hearing: Several community commenters used the budget hearing to criticize what they called inflated legal expenditures and to question how part‑time employees are treated regarding district health‑benefit contributions. One commenter said the district's services-and‑operating category—where staffing and legal costs sit—appeared to include significant legal spending and alleged that part‑time employees do not receive the full value of benefit contributions the district budgets for them; the speaker estimated unspent part‑time benefit dollars in the hundreds of thousands of dollars (allegation attributed to public testimony and requiring verification).

Why this matters: The budget determines district staffing, class sizes and programs for 2026-27. Comments about the distribution of district funds between legal defense, administrative costs and classroom supports echo other public remarks during the meeting and will inform public scrutiny at the adoption hearing.

Next steps: The board held the public hearing and the first reading on June 9 and will vote to adopt the budget at the June 16 board meeting. Staff said they will return with any negotiated salary effects and recommended adjustments at that time.

Ending: Budget adoption on June 16 will finalize the district's spending plan for 2026-27; significant items to watch are salary settlements, the final reserve percentage, and the district's final general‑fund contribution to special education.