Pasadena Unified Faces Financial Crisis
Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) plans to enact budget cuts of up to $35M to resolve a looming financial crisis.
The district is spending more money than it brings in, with a $27 million budget deficit for the 2024-25 school year, almost four times larger than the previous year.
- Declining enrollment, with 13% fewer students than a decade ago, means less money from the state.
- The Eaton Fire led to at least 90 students disenrolling, with a long-term impact that remains unclear.
The district has said that budget decisions will be “informed by engagement with the community.”
County officials noted that federal COVID-19 relief dollars may have masked the consequences of the district’s budget deficit.
Author's summary: PUSD faces a financial crisis due to declining enrollment and budget deficit.