FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact:
James Canning, jcanning@sandi.net, 313-580-2845
Mike Murad, mmurad@sandi.net, 619-925-4790
SD UNIFIED BUDGET WORKSHOP TONIGHT, DISTRICT CONTINUES MAKING PROGRESS ON ELIMINATING PROJECTED BUDGET DEFICIT
SAN DIEGO (FEBRUARY 4, 2025) – The San Diego Unified School District continues its work on reducing, and ultimately eliminating, its projected budget deficit ahead of the 2025-26 school year. The community is invited to a budget workshop tonight, Tuesday, Feb. 4, from 5-8 p.m. at the Ballard Center Auditorium, located at 2375 Congress St., San Diego, 92110.
The recent release of the Governor’s proposed budget will be discussed, along with its potential impact on San Diego Unified, and the District’s fiscal advocacy priorities. This is the next step in a set of actions that will inform our efforts to present the District’s second interim report in March and deliver a final balanced budget for the San Diego Unified Board of Education to adopt in June.
Opportunities for participation from all in attendance will be available during breakout group discussions.
Actions Taken Already To Reduce the Projected Deficit
- In December, the District identified $64 million of savings, which decreased the District’s projected $176 million deficit to $112 million for the 2025-26 budget year. This 36% reduction in the deficit was due to a combination of vacancy savings, an increase in the number of students qualifying under the state’s local control funding formula, and increases in revenue projections from a handful of state and federal funding sources.
- In January, the number of San Diego Unified employees taking the early retirement incentive exceeded the District’s projections, with the number approximately 27% higher than originally anticipated.
Although the early retirement incentive will provide substantial savings for the District, Fabi Bagula, Ph.D., San Diego Unified Superintendent (Interim) expressed the bittersweet sentiment of what it will also mean to bid farewell to seasoned, experienced professionals - many of whom have served San Diego Unified for decades.
“I am thrilled that we get to honor the work of our colleagues with a retirement pathway that recognizes their commitment and service to our students,” said Dr. Bagula. “However, they are more than just our colleagues - they are friends and family, and we will miss them tremendously.”
To learn more about the 2025-26 San Diego Unified School District budget, click here.
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James Canning (He/Him)
Executive Director, Strategic Communications & Information
San Diego Unified School District
jcanning@sandi.net | www.sandiegounified.org
Mobile Phone: 313-580-2845
4100 Normal Street, San Diego, CA 92103
Note: I may send and respond to emails outside of my normal workday or workweek. Please do not feel obligated to reply outside of your normal work schedule. Thank you.
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