Budget and Financial Reports

Santa Barbara Unified School District’s Budget Department works to support the district’s daily instructional and non-instructional activities. This is achieved by:

• preparing and monitoring the district’s budget;
• ensuring accountability and compliance with district policies as well as state laws, federal laws and the requirements of other agencies, groups and individuals providing financial resources to support the district’s mission;
• working in collaboration with district departments and sites to provide useful information and reports to assist in setting priorities, assist in decision making and strategic planning to optimize our students’ education experience;
• working with external auditors to certify that our fiscal reports accurately represent our financial position. 

The Board of Trustees requested reports on actions the District will be taking throughout the year to address fiscal sustainability. The Budget Sustainability Reports are designed to provide clarity and transparency to the Board and community as we tighten our budget while meeting the needs of our students.
 

The overall objectives of our budget sustainability measures are the following:


● Identify areas of excessive spending and potential savings
● Reduce overhead without affecting classroom activities
● Reduce utility costs by improving energy efficiency
● Reduce transportation costs while maintaining student access
● Ensure the district is receiving the best value for contracted services
● Balance staffing levels with student enrollment to avoid overstaffing
● Supplement property tax revenue with additional funding sources
● Ensure long-term financial stability through disciplined budgeting
● Ensure the effectiveness of implemented savings measures