MUSD Board begins discussion on projected budget for next fiscal year

Maricopa Unified School District’s Governing Board this week discussed its projected budget for fiscal year 2023-24 with plans to finalize it in the coming weeks.  

Jacob Harmon, MUSD chief financial officer, shared the estimated limits for maintenance and operations, the classroom site fund and the district’s capital spending.  

Through extensive calculations and funding formulas, Harmon predicted a general M&O limit of $76 million – including everything from transportation to teacher salaries.  

The classroom site fund is tied to sales tax, so Harmon created a buffer for the district in the event of an economic downturn, with an overall limit of $7.6 million. He calculated about $1.5 million to go toward raises and new positions.  

As far as capital expenses go, Harmon said it depends on the district’s main priorities.  

Recurring capital expenses include student computers, buses, portable classrooms and curriculum adoptions.  

“But, as usual, we have more needs than we can fund,” he said. “We have a lot of projects going on.”  

This summer, CORE Construction is installing seven new portable classrooms and renovating the front offices and entrances at Maricopa Elementary School and Maricopa Wells Middle School.  

“This is the first step in the district to reconfigure the front offices to have a secure entry,” Harmon said. 

Other potential projects include upgrading the bells and intercoms, adding vape censors to the bathrooms, adding furniture to accommodate student population growth and adding a press box and audio to the football field at Desert Sunrise.  

Board member Anna-Marie Knorr thanked Harmon for the work and dedication in creating the projected budget. 

“Thank you for the transparency you provide, really explaining where the money comes from and where it’s slated to go,” Knorr told Harmon. “I think it’s really important for the community and the staff to see that.”  

Harmon will address the board next month to further discuss the budget breakdown before the public hearing on June 14 and the final budget adoption on July 12.