Sacramento City Unified board plans central office cuts to address deficit | EdSource
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The Sacramento City Unified School District set a course at a Board of Education meeting last week to address a “historic” budget shortfall of about $170.5 million by cutting staff, consolidating facilities and boosting student attendance.
According to the district, the deficit figure was revised recently to “properly account for savings that had been factored in without being fully realized.”
No vote was taken at the Thursday meeting, which ran until almost midnight, but members of the district’s leadership cabinet presented proposed plans to reduce spending and increase revenue. Chief Communications Officer Brian Heap told the board that proposed roadmaps would lead to budget recovery between 2031 and 2033.
Heap said the leadership cabinet recommends a special education fiscal efficiency audit before finalizing the 2026-2027 budget. The district has faced skyrocketing costs for special education. He said the district should also fill a chief business officer position with a candidate who has “turnaround” experience.
The cabinet recommended staff cuts down the road, including a consolidation of the district’s central office, which now employs 845 full-time staff. One “responsible” scenario is to cut the central office staff down to 709 full-time employees.
The proposal will come back before the board at its next meeting on May 7.
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News Brief
Monday, May 4, 2026 — 11:50 am
May 4, 2026
The Sacramento City Unified School District set a course at a Board of Education meeting last week to address a “historic” budget shortfall of about $170.5 million by cutting staff, consolidating facilities and boosting student attendance.
According to the district, the deficit figure was revised recently to “properly account for savings that had been factored in without being fully realized.”
No vote was taken at the Thursday meeting, which ran until almost midnight, but members of the district’s leadership cabinet presented proposed plans to reduce spending and increase revenue. Chief Communications Officer Brian Heap told the board that proposed roadmaps would lead to budget recovery between 2031 and 2033.
Heap said the leadership cabinet recommends a special education fiscal efficiency audit before finalizing the 2026-2027 budget. The district has faced skyrocketing costs for special education. He said the district should also fill a chief business officer position with a candidate who has “turnaround” experience.
The cabinet recommended staff cuts down the road, including a consolidation of the district’s central office, which now employs 845 full-time staff. One “responsible” scenario is to cut the central office staff down to 709 full-time employees.
The proposal will come back before the board at its next meeting on May 7.
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