Unit 5 FY26 Budget At A Glance
Budget Overview
FY26 Budget Overview
The Unit 5 Fiscal Year 2026 budget (7/1/2025 through 6/30/2026) outlines a complete operational plan centered on maximizing educational delivery while maintaining robust fiscal health across all funds. The total budget anticipates $241.70 million in revenues, against $244.77 million in total expenditures. The District projects a slightly lower overall fund balance year-over-year, which is largely attributed to scheduled, large-scale Health Life Safety renovation projects.
The most critical component of this plan are the Operating Funds, which encompasses the day-to-day operations of the District. The Operating Funds project a positive net change of approximately $7.84 million, resulting in an estimated $42.35 million in ending fund balance. This strong operating reserve is crucial for maintaining healthy cash flow, mitigating risks from uncertain timing of state funding disbursements, and providing the fiscal stability necessary for long-term personnel and programmatic planning.
| Category | Beginning Balance (7/1/25) | Total Revenues | Total Expenditures | Net Change | Estimated Ending Balance (6/30/26) |
| Operating Funds (Day-to-Day Operations) |
$34,501,181 | $220,198,326 | $212,354,355 | $7,843,971 | $42,345,152 |
| Non-Operating Funds (Long-Term Planning) | $74,550,674 | $21,503,237 | $32,414,044 | -$10,910,807 | $63,639,867 |
| All Funds | $109,051,855 | $241,701,563 | $244,768,398 | -$3,066,835 | $105,985,019 |
Deeper Dive: Operating Funds
Operating Funds: Unit 5's Day-to-Day Operations
Operating Funds are the primary source of funding for the district's day-to-day expenses. They are comprised of several sub-funds, each dedicated to specific categories of operational costs.
Educational Fund
This is the largest and most critical of the operating funds. It covers all expenses related to instruction and student support, including salaries for teachers, aides, and administrators; curriculum materials; technology; and extracurricular activities.
Operations & Maintenance Fund
This fund is used for the upkeep and maintenance of all district buildings and grounds. Expenses include utilities, janitorial services, landscaping, and the repair and maintenance of facilities.
Transportation Fund
This fund is used exclusively to cover the costs associated with transporting students to and from school and school-related activities. Expenses include the purchase and maintenance of school buses, fuel, and payments to First Student (the District's bus fleet operator).
Social Security and Municipal Retirement Fund
This fund is dedicated to covering the district's portion of employee social security and retirement contributions. It ensures that the district meets its legal obligations regarding employee benefits.
Tort Fund
This fund is used to pay for costs associated with legal liabilities, insurance premiums, and settlements from lawsuits. It provides a financial safety net for the district against unforeseen legal challenges.
To see where money comes from and how money is spent, click on the plus sign to expand the sections below.
Where Money Comes From
Local Sources
$163.3 Million / 74.2%
This is the largest, most stable source, primarily derived from local property taxes paid by homeowners and businesses. This funding stream is critical and helps ensure consistency in educational programming year after year. It also includes fees (like activity fees), investment interest, and rentals of school facilities.
State Sources
$37.6 Million / 17.1%
This includes Evidence-Based Funding (EBF), which is the state's main mechanism for ensuring funding equity across districts, and is dedicated to general education costs. There are also additional specific grants for mandated programs like student transportation and certain personnel.
Federal Sources
$13.7 Million / 6.2%
This money supports specific, targeted programs that address unique student needs. Examples include Title programs (such as Title I for low-income students and Title III for English learners), Special Education (IDEA) to support students with disabilities, and Medicaid reimbursement for providing health and therapeutic services to special needs students.
Other Sources
$5.5 Million / 2.5%
The District plans to transfer $5.5 million into the Transportation Fund from the Working Cash Fund. This strategic transfer is necessary to ensure we have enough operational cash flow to cover the high, mandatory costs of busing students, as the state transportation claim revenue is severely prorated (loss of about $4.2 million).
How Money Is Spent
Instruction
$112.1 Million / 50.9%
This is our top priority, representing over half of our operating budget. It directly covers teachers' salaries and benefits, classroom supplies, technology upgrades, and the purchase of new curriculum materials. It also funds specialized programs like special education services, vocational and career pathway courses, and literacy/math intervention specialists.
Instructional Support
$13.7 Million / 6.2%
This covers all the services that supplement classroom instruction. It directly covers salaries and benefits for social workers, counselors, nurses, psychologists and speech pathologists. Supplies and materials for these services are also included here.
Administrative Support
$79.7 Million / 36.2%
This covers all the critical services outside the classroom. This includes running our fleet of buses and paying our bus operator (First Student), serving breakfast and lunch to our students, the essential costs of maintaining and operating school buildings (like utilities, custodial staff, and groundskeeping), administrative functions (HR, IT, Finance), and the salaries of principals and school-based support staff.
Other Services & Uses
$6.8 Million / 3.1%
This covers Community Services (services outside of the normal school day), Payments to Other Governments for services the District does not provide, and payments for exisitng leases.
Deeper Dive: Non-Operating Funds
Non-Operating Funds: Unit 5's Long-Term Planning and Reserves
These funds are kept separate for specific, big-picture needs, like paying off loans, saving for emergencies, and major construction.
Working Cash Fund
Net Change for the Year:
Decrease of $1.8 MillionPurpose
The district's main savings account. Used for temporary loans to other funds or emergency needs.
Key Activity (Why the Change?)
This decrease is planned. The District is transferring $5.5 million out of Working Cash to strategically support the cash flow needs of the Transportation Fund.
Fire Prevention & Safety Fund
Net Change for the Year:
Decrease of $9.1 MillionPurpose
Capital projects for state mandatory building improvements and safety projects.
Key Activity (Why the Change?)
This fund is being intentionally drawn down to spend $10.0 million on critical facility upgrades and safety work. This includes major projects like HVAC system replacements, necessary roof repairs, and security enhancements across school campuses, representing a significant investment in our students' physical environment.
Debt Service Fund
Net Change for the Year:
Decrease of $1.0 MillionPurpose
Pays the principal and interest on our general long-term bonds/loans.
Key Activity (Why the Change?)
Expenditures to pay off debt were higher than the dedicated tax revenue collected for this specific purpose. This is planned and a normal part of the debt payment schedule. Proper long-term financing helped manage the impact.
Capital Projects Fund
Net Change for the Year:
Increase of $1.0 MillionPurpose
Used for major construction projects or large equipment purchases.
Key Activity (Why the Change?)
This is a dedicated account for future, major construction projects or the purchase of large capital assets, ensuring resources are set aside for future needs without impacting day-to-day operations.