Revenue is expected to exceed $400 million for the first time in the history of the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District by the end of the current fiscal year on June 30, 2027, according to a budget adopted on a 5-0 trustee vote at a recent meeting.
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The anticipated revenue number is $402 million, with expected expenditures of $395 million, leaving an approximate one-year surplus of some $7 million, which is a significant change from the past several years of deficit spending.
The surplus put the district in “really good (financial) shape,” according to a statement to trustees by John Pappalardo, chief budget officer.
The surplus is from about $26 million in one-time funding from the state, he said.
The district will apply the funds to expenses this year and the next two years, according to current plans. Deficit spending could return for the 2029-30 school year, unless the district’s stated goal to “work on efficiencies based on declining enrollment” is successful.
Most of this year’s surplus will be used to pay a 2.5% salary increase granted teachers at a May meeting for the just completed 2025-26 school year. The increase, retroactive to July 1, 2025, was not included in the budget.
Salaries and benefits make up 82.2% of the budget.
Student enrollment for this school year is expected to be 21,335, a drop of 388 students from last year. Next year’s number is predicted at 20,947, with 20,559 students the year after.
Enrollment at the district-operated charter school, the Orange County School of Computer Science for sixth- through eighth-grade students on the Bernardo Yorba campus, is projected to be 560 students this year, with 548 next year and 536 the year after.
Average daily attendance, which plays a key role in state funding, is projected to be 20,215 this year, a drop from 20,598 last year. Next year’s projection is 19,810, with 19,469 the year after.
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State lottery funding is $272 per ADA. This year’s total, $5.5 million, is less than 1.4% of revenue.
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This year’s cost of placing school resource officers at the four comprehensive high schools is not to exceed $420,000.
A contract with Anaheim places an officer at Esperanza High, with cost split 50-50 between district and city.
The contract with Placentia places one officer each at El Dorado and Valencia highs at a cost of 79% to the district and 21% to the city.
The contract with Yorba Linda places a deputy at Yorba Linda High, cost divided five-twelfths for the district and seven-twelfths for the city.
Although each contract is slightly different, generally the resource officers are involved in campus safety, crime prevention and student outreach. They do not discipline students.
Trustees also approved a $30,000 retainer with The Titan Group for professional investigation services that could include surveillance, interviews, data searches and report writing, with fees from $95 to $285 per hour.
Jim Drummond is a longtime Yorba Linda resident. He regularly gives his take on local issues. Send e-mail to [email protected].
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