News Brief
Tuesday, April 21, 2026 — 11:57 am
April 21, 2026
The projected budget deficit for Fresno Unified School District for the upcoming school year has increased to $88 million, The Fresno Bee reported.
In February, the district had a $77 million deficit, with a projected $59 million shortfall expected for the 2026-27 school year, the third school year of multi-million-dollar budget cuts.
Up until that point, Fresno Unified attributed the shortfall to low attendance, which California school funding is based on, and declining annual enrollment.
The district has now said that the increased expenses, which are outpacing funding, are because of the need for more-than-expected special education staff and higher transportation costs.
Though overall enrollment has declined, the number of students qualifying for special education services has grown — a statewide trend.
Fresno Unified has not said how it plans to address the fiscal gap, The Bee reported.
In December, the board approved early retirement for 573 employees to save the district $56 million over the next five years.
Even though Fresno Unified had avoided layoffs the last two years of budget cuts, in February, the district issued preliminary layoff notices to 274 employees. In compliance with state law, school districts are required to send preliminary pink slips by March 15 to any employee who could lose their job before the next school year. As districts finalize decisions, many of the notices are withdrawn by May 15, the last day final layoff notices can be given.
But in February, Fresno Unified board members also began receiving the pay raises they had approved.
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