Ripon Unified is expected to spend $79.06 cents of every $100 general fund expenditure in the upcoming school year covering educator and support staff salaries as well as benefits.

The general fund expenditures were part of a $52.9 million proposed budget the Ripon Unified school board was presented with on Monday to educate 3,277 students during the 2026-2027 school year.

The final budget is expected to be adopted June 20.

Certified salaries are 41.18 percent of the general fund budget, classified employee salaries 15.8 percent, and employee benefits 22.98 percent.

The balance of expenses includes 4.39 percent for books and supplies, 11.73 percent for services and operations including utilities, 1.53 percent for capital outlay, and 2.39 percent for other outgo.

Local funding — property taxes — provide 4.69 percent or $2.3 million of the general fund revenues.

Sacramento’s Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) provides 83.2 percent of the district’s funding or $41.6 million.

The LCFF is California’s primary K-12 education finance system. The formula distributes state funding to school districts based on student grade levels and demographics. It provides extra money to support disadvantaged students — specifically low-income families, English learners, and foster youth.

Other state funds for specific programs accounts for 9.49 percent of Ripon Unified’s revenue while federal funds are 2.62 percent.

The budget has projected reserves as well as assigned and unassigned fund balances of $11.2 million.

Of that, $3.1 million is a minimum set aside for a reserve for economic uncertainties that helps cushion against funding shortfalls,

There is $8 million committed to substantiated needs including reserves to fund future capital improvement projects.

There is also a $55,074 lottery fund reserve.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com

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