Explore labor proposals and required budget cuts for 2025-27
2026-27 Budget Gap
$102.0M
Base deficit only
Select Proposal
⚠️ Context: SFUSD has a $1.2B operating budget for 2025-26, with $114M in cuts already made.
The district faces an additional $102M in cuts needed for 2026-27 due to enrollment decline.
Custom Controls
4.0%
Key Budget Facts
Operating Budget
$1.2B
Cost Per 1% Raise
$10.17M
Board Reserve
$111M
State Reserve (Required)
$28M
Budget Impact Analysis
Impact on Available Reserves ($111M Board Reserve)0%
⚠️ Budget Reality Check
Regardless of which proposal is accepted, SFUSD must still cut approximately $102 million
from the 2026-27 budget due to declining enrollment and the structural deficit. The labor contract costs
add to this challenge.
Proposal Comparison
Item
Union
District
Panel
Salary Increase
9% (4.5%/yr)
4% (2%/yr)
6% (3%/yr)
Family Health Benefits
$11-14M/yr
Use parcel tax
Parcel tax bridge
Special Education
Workload model
Status quo
Pilot program
Class Size
Hard limits
Goals (status quo)
Goals (status quo)
Full Staffing
$82.1M/yr
Status quo
Status quo
📊 Understanding the Numbers
Ongoing vs. One-Time Costs: Salary increases and new staffing positions are ongoing costs that must be paid every year. The Board Reserve ($111M) is primarily one-time money that, once spent, cannot sustain permanent salary increases.
What Are Reserves For? The Board Reserve is meant to be a financial cushion for emergencies and unexpected events — like natural disasters, sudden enrollment drops, or economic downturns. It's designed to protect classrooms from abrupt mid-year cuts when revenue unexpectedly falls short. Using reserves for ongoing expenses (like permanent salary increases) means the district would have no safety net when the next crisis hits.
The Structural Deficit: SFUSD faces declining enrollment (down 9.42% in Average Daily Attendance), which means less state funding. The district has already cut $114M and needs to find another $102M in cuts for 2026-27.
Reserve Context: While California requires only 2% reserves ($28M), the state recommends 17% as best practice ($204M). SFUSD's board reserve of $111M represents about 8% of the general fund — still below the recommended level.
Strike Costs: If schools close during a strike, SFUSD would lose $7-10 million per day in state penalties for ceasing instruction.
The Budget Reality:
SFUSD needs to cut approximately $102 million for 2026-27 due to declining enrollment (down 9.42%),
expiring COVID relief funds, and the structural deficit. Additionally, the labor proposal you selected adds
ongoing costs that must be funded.
Budget Challenge Summary
Selected Proposal Cost:Union Proposal
Annual Cost:$0.0M
2-Year Cost:$0.0M
Base Deficit (2026-27)
$102M
Labor Proposal Cost (Annual)
$0.0M
Total Gap to Close
$102.0M
Reserve Available
$111M
💰 Use Board Reserve (One-Time Money)
You can use the $111M Board Reserve to cover one-time costs or to bridge funding gaps.
However, reserves cannot sustainably fund ongoing expenses like permanent salary increases. Once spent,
the money is gone and cannot be relied upon for future years.
$0M
⚠️ Remember: Using reserves for ongoing costs (like salary increases) means you'll face an even larger deficit next year when the reserve money runs out.
Base Deficit:
$102.0M
+ Labor Proposal:
$0.0M
- Reserve Used:
$0.0M
- Cuts Made:
$0.0M
= Still Needed:
$102.0M
Progress Toward Balanced Budget0%
🚨 You still need to cut $102.0 million to balance the budget.
Select Budget Cuts
Check the boxes below to implement cuts. Some items allow you to choose the level of reduction.
👥 Staffing Reductions
School Social Workers
$0.0M
Reduce school-site social workers. Currently provides counseling, crisis support, and family connections.
Proposed cut: up to 45 full-time positions.
0% of positions (0 FTE)
💔 Impact: Reduced mental health support, less crisis intervention capacity, fewer resources for trauma-affected students
School Security Staff
$0.0M
Reduce campus security aides. Proposed: cut security staffing by up to 50% across schools.
Reduce teaching positions through attrition and strategic reductions. District trying to minimize teacher layoffs.
0 teaching positions
📚 Impact: Larger class sizes, fewer course offerings, reduced individual attention for students
School Counselors
$0.0M
Reduce school counselor positions. Counselors support academic planning, college/career readiness, and student wellness.
0% of positions
🎓 Impact: Less college/career guidance, reduced academic counseling, fewer mental health check-ins
Central Office Staff
$12.0M
Further reduce central administration positions beyond the 200 already eliminated. SFUSD spends 83% more
on central admin than peer districts.
Click card to select
💼 Impact: Slower district processes, reduced support for schools, potential compliance issues
🚌 Programs & Services
School Bus Service
$8.5M
Eliminate general education bus service. Would maintain only buses for special education students as required by law.
Click card to select
🚸 Impact: Transportation burden on families, reduced access for low-income students, possible enrollment decline
Health & Wellness Programs
$6.2M
Eliminate or significantly reduce health and wellness programs at middle schools, including physical education
specialists and health education.
Click card to select
🏃 Impact: Reduced PE instruction, fewer health education programs, less support for student wellness
Seven-Period Day Elimination
$7.8M
Move from seven-period to six-period school day. Reduces course offerings and elective options for students.
Click card to select
📖 Impact: Fewer electives, reduced arts/music access, less flexibility in student schedules
English Learner Support
$4.8M
Reduce funding for English-language learner programs and support staff.
Click card to select
🌍 Impact: Less support for immigrant students, reduced language acquisition resources, equity concerns
Professional Development
$3.5M
Reduce teacher training, workshops, and professional development opportunities.
Click card to select
👨🏫 Impact: Less teacher training on new methods, reduced support for new teachers, stagnant teaching quality
Student Internship Programs
$2.1M
Eliminate or reduce career exploration and internship opportunities for high school students.
Click card to select
💼 Impact: Fewer career-readiness opportunities, reduced work experience for students
🏫 Facilities & Operations
School Consolidations/Closures
$0.0M
Close or consolidate underutilized school sites. With enrollment down 9.42%, many schools operate well below capacity.
Each closure saves on facilities, staffing, and operational costs.
0 schools
🏫 Impact: Neighborhood school loss, longer commutes, community disruption, political controversy
Facilities Maintenance
$5.5M
Defer non-urgent maintenance and facilities upgrades. Reduce custodial and maintenance staffing.
Click card to select
🔧 Impact: Deteriorating facilities, potential health/safety issues, higher costs later
Technology & IT
$4.2M
Reduce IT support staff, delay Chromebook replacements, cut software licenses and technology upgrades.
Significantly reduce spending on external consultants and contractors. Union argues district overspends on outside services.
Click card to select
📋 Impact: Less external expertise, reliance on internal capacity, possible slower project delivery
District Overhead Reduction
$6.5M
Cut administrative overhead including supplies, equipment, travel, conferences, and discretionary spending.
Click card to select
📎 Impact: Reduced resources for staff, less professional networking, potential efficiency loss
🎨 Arts, Athletics & Enrichment (PEEF-funded)
Athletics Programs
$0.0M
Reduce sports programs across schools. PEEF funds athletics coaches, equipment, and competitions.
Could reduce offerings or eliminate some sports entirely.
0% reduction
⚽ Impact: Fewer sports teams, reduced physical activity, less college recruiting opportunities
Arts & Music Programs
$0.0M
Reduce arts and music instruction. Could mean fewer music teachers, reduced art supplies,
elimination of some programs like band, orchestra, or visual arts.
0% reduction
🎨 Impact: Reduced creative expression, fewer enrichment opportunities, less college portfolio development
School Libraries & Librarians
$0.0M
Reduce library staffing or hours. PEEF currently ensures every school has a credentialed librarian.
Could reduce to part-time or share librarians between schools.
Eliminate or reduce instructional coaches who support teachers in classroom practices,
curriculum implementation, and professional growth.
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👩🏫 Impact: Less teacher support, slower professional development, reduced instructional quality
Parent Liaisons & Community Coordinators
$4.2M
Reduce staff dedicated to parent engagement, community partnerships, and family support services.
Click card to select
🤝 Impact: Reduced family engagement, less parent communication, weaker community connections
School Wellness Centers
$5.8M
Close or reduce hours at school-based wellness centers that provide health services,
counseling, and support for students.
Click card to select
🏥 Impact: Less accessible health services, reduced mental health support, more barriers to care
Language Immersion Programs
$6.3M
Reduce or eliminate specialized language immersion programs (Spanish, Mandarin, etc.)
or transition them to standard language classes.
Click card to select
🌍 Impact: Loss of unique programs, reduced bilingual opportunities, enrollment decline risk
Career Pathway Programs
$5.2M
Reduce specialized career and technical education programs including biotech,
engineering, culinary arts, and other vocational training.
Click card to select
💼 Impact: Fewer job-ready skills, reduced vocational options, less career preparation
📚 Context & Background
Why These Cuts? SFUSD enrollment has declined 9.42% (measured by Average Daily Attendance),
meaning less state funding since California funds districts per student. COVID relief funds have also expired,
creating a $102M structural deficit for 2026-27.
Already Cut: The district already made $114 million in cuts for
2025-26, including 200 central office positions through early retirement programs. The district has tried to
avoid teacher layoffs but must now make deeper reductions.
School Closures Controversy: SFUSD paused a plan for widespread
school closures in fall 2024 after intense community backlash. However, with many schools operating well below
capacity, closures may be necessary for fiscal stability.
Union Opposition: The teachers union has strongly opposed many
proposed cuts, arguing the district should reduce consultant spending and central administration instead of
frontline services. This tension contributed to the strike authorization vote.