The Lucerne Valley Unified School District’s Board of Trustees voted on June 12th to adopt the district’s 2025-26 budget. According to education code, the district must submit a final budget by July 1st.
Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Olga Fisher presented the budget that she prepared with the help of her assistant Lori Herriman. Divided into four sections, her report included: 1) a summary of the general fund “based on the estimated actuals and adopted budget”; 2) a summary of all other funds; 3) a multi-year projection of the district’s financial condition through June 30, 2028; 4) and a summary and recommendations regarding financial issues over the next three years.
“This is just the best prediction based on assumptions,” Ms. Fisher said. “This is not laid down in stone exactly what’s going to happen; it’s based on historical data,” adding the projections were made on “the conservative side.”
Olga Fisher
According to her assumptions, she projects steady Average Daily Attendance of 1,090 through 2028. While the district did not experience the same level of growth in 2024-25 as it did in previous recent years, the budget could be tailored in the event there was unexpected growth.
“I project it is going to be steady, but there is the potential for much higher ADA.”
The Cost of Living Adjustment comes in at 2.3% in 2025-26 with a rise to 3.42% by 2028. The projected revenues for 2025-26 is $28.7 million comprised of $17.7 million from LCFF, $1.3 million in Federal, $3.6 million in other state income and $6 million in local income.
Expenditures total $30.3 million with teacher salaries again topping the list with $9.3 million designated and classified salaries at $4.4 million. Employee benefits are $6.9 million, books and supplies are $2.2 million, services and operations are $3.5 million, capital outlay is $3 million, which is an increase due to the current SiteLogiQ Energy project and other improvement projects. Outgo amounts to $641,487.
The district’s beginning fund balance is $8.7 million with a projected ending balance of $7.1 million.
Multi-Year Projections
Beyond 2025-2026, Ms. Fisher predicts only subtle changes. With Estimated P-2 ADA of 1,090 and Projected Enrollment of 1,190 for the three next school years ending in June of 2028, income from those sources will essentially be steady and unchanged. Cost of Living Adjustment will rise from 2.3% this year, to 3.02 % the following year, and 3.42% in 2027-28. The California State Teachers’ Retirement System employer contribution rate will remain at 19.1% through the duration while the California Public Employees Retirement System rate will climb slightly from 26.81% and 26.9% to 27.8%. Fisher’s assumptions also project that the Special Education Contribution will rise from $2,099,291 this year, followed by contributions of $2,173,186 in 2026-2027 and $2,252,072 in 2027-2028.
Ms. Fisher concludes that the Lucerne Valley USD is project to meet all its financial obligations. The district has allocated $2.7 million toward the SiteLogIQ energy efficiency project, which will “enhance operational efficiencies and reduce future expenditures.” She added that some services and operating expenses “have been judiciously reduced … without compromising academic quality and success.”
“As we move forward, continued prudence in our spending will be essential to sustaining our financial stability and supporting the district’s ongoing pursuit of academic excellence,” according to Ms. Fisher.
