Laguna Beach Budget Study Session May 12, 2026 (Open Session)

May 12, 2026

Executive Summary

The Laguna Beach Unified School District Board of Education held a budget study session on May 12, 2026, following a closed session in which the Board approved, by a 3-2 vote (with Trustees Malcheski and Kelly opposing), a mutual separation agreement with Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass effective May 31, 2026, placing him on paid administrative leave beginning May 13, 2026. Chief Business Official Manoj Roy Chowdhury presented the proposed 2026-27 general fund budget of $94.6 million in revenues and $90.15 million in expenditures, emphasizing that the district has no structural deficit and remains fiscally sound despite facing multi-year funding challenges. The district maintains a AAA credit rating (higher than the state of California) and projects ending fund balance reserves of $7.79 million (8.64%) in 2026-27, above the state minimum of 3% but below the board's 5% policy threshold. Property tax revenues of $76 million far exceed the district's LCFF entitlement of $27 million, making Laguna Beach a community-funded district with the second-lowest school tax rate in Orange County at $8.85 per $100,000 assessed value. Mr. Roy Chowdhury proposed a temporary one-year reduction of th

Key Decisions

- The Board approved, by a vote of 3 to 2 (Trustees Howard Hills and Dee Perry yes, Trustees Malcheski and Kelly opposing), a mutual separation agreement and general release with Superintendent Dr. Jason Glass, executed May 12, 2026, with a resignation date of May 31, 2026, and paid administrative leave effective May 13, 2026.