Expenditures outpace income in new Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District budget

Close to $288 million will be spent educating some 25,000 students at the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District's 34 campuses during the upcoming school year, according to the 2019-20 publication budget approved by the district's five elected trustees recently.

Again this year the district anticipates spending more than income received from state, local and federal sources, with about $12.2 million coming from reserve funds saved in past years.

Still, school officials expect to finish the fiscal year on June 30, 2020, with a black-ink balance that includes $11.3 million as a “reserve for future deficits” and $14.5 million more “designated for economic uncertainties.”

The 40-square-mile district includes all of Yorba Linda and Placentia, with 43,198 and 27,546 registered voters, respectively, and portions of Fullerton, Brea, Anaheim and the East Placentia, Fairlynn and Country Club county islands, totaling 20,585 registered voters.

Enrollment for the upcoming year is expected to total 24,935, down from last year's 25,229 and a high of 26,243 in the 2007-08 school year. But much of the state funding is based on average daily attendance, estimated to be 23,980 this year, down from 24,243 last year.

About 84 percent of general fund expenditures will pay salaries and benefits for some 2,700 employees. The breakdown: 43 percent for certificated teachers, counselors and administrators; 15 percent for classified support staff; and 26 percent for benefits.

Interestingly, the 205-page budget document takes a close look at programs underfunded by the state that are “drawing away funds that could be used for other needed purposes,” with a total $34.6 million hit to the general fund.

A significant area of underfunding is special education, for which services are mandated by the federal and state governments and provided to students with identified disabilities.

While “both governmental agencies provide some funding, historically the funding has been significantly less than the cost of the required services.” For example, in the upcoming year, the district expects a $28 million shortfall in state funding.

The expected shortfall is $9,342 for each of the district's 3,007 special education students, 7 percent higher than last year's $8,692. Total special education expenses are expected to be $47.8 million.

Since special education services are located at various school sites, busing is needed, with higher costs due to longer distances and individual routing. Adding to costs is a “significant rise in the number of students identified with autism.”

Other costs include regular home-to-school and special education busing, with expenses expected at $8.1 million, underfunded by $6.5 million. The district's home-to-school fee is $2.20 per day or $396 for the year.

Also interesting: Expected state lottery income is a bit over $5 million, about 1.7 percent of the year's expenditures.