Placentia-Yorba Linda school district expects less revenue, fewer expenses, greater gap between income and expenses this year; officer honored with 91 Freeway signage

 Less revenue, fewer expenditures and a greater gap between income and expenses by the end of the current fiscal year over last year's figures are expected by Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District trustees, according to two documents presented at recent meetings.

Revenues are projected to drop 7.4%, as expenditures are predicted to dip 2.2% by June 30, 2026, over the amounts recorded on June 30 this year. The spread of expenses over income is expected to grow about $24.1 million during the same time period.

One document, the “Unaudited Actuals Financial Report,” for the fiscal year that ended June 30 was approved by a unanimous trustee vote Sept. 9. State law requires the report be filed with the Orange County Department of Education by Sept. 15 each year.

The second document is the district's budget for the fiscal year that began July 1, 2025, and ends June 30, 2026. After meeting several state-mandated steps, including a public hearing, the budget was adopted at a summer meeting on a unanimous vote.

Here are the (rounded) numbers: Revenue is expected to drop from $384.7 million last year to $356.2 million this year, while expenditures will dip from $403.3 million to $394.4 million. The gap of expenses over income, $18.6 million last year, is expected to be $42.7 million this year.

Most state funding for schools is based on average daily attendance or ADA, a figure that has been declining for several years in the district. Last year's ADA was 20,766, which is expected to drop to 20,588 this year. Projections for the following two years are 20,428 and 20,268.

This year's total enrollment for the district's 34 campuses in Yorba Linda, Placentia, Fullerton and Anaheim is projected at 21,777, with estimates for the following two years at 21,608 and 21,438.

A minor portion of a school district's funding comes from revenue from the state lottery, with the amount received by each district based on ADA. The Placentia-Yorba Linda district's portion of ticket sales last year was $6.6 million, which is projected to drop to $5.9 million this year.

Federal government funding also comprises a small portion of a school district's budget. This year, the Placentia-Yorba Linda district expects $10.1 million in federal dollars, 4.2% less than last year. Most of the district's budget, about 80.1%, goes to employee salaries and benefits.

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On May 22, 1996, when Brea police served Yorba Linda, Officer Terry Lee Fincher was searching for evidence in an assault case near Esperanza Road and Hickory Drive. He apparently didn't hear the train that stuck and killed him, despite yells from a fellow officer.

Now, 30 years later, signage designating a portion of the 91 Freeway as “Brea Police Detective Terry Lee Fincher Memorial Highway” has been installed at the Yorba Linda Boulevard and Gypson Canyon exits to recognize the 16-year Brea police and Vietnam veteran.