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Novato Unified School District

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Financial Update

Financial Update

Novato Unified School District (NUSD) is home to award-winning schools offering education to over 7,000 students in 13 neighborhood schools. Teachers and staff strive to provide an innovative and personalized learning experience for every student in a supportive environment to develop the knowledge and skills necessary to be successful and productive citizens.
Ongoing Budgetary Challenges
Novato Unified School District receives the majority of its funding from the State of California. State budget forecasts, which the district uses to create its annual budget, are unreliable. Over the past three years, the State’s budget allotments have fallen short of what was forecasted, resulting in a $6.5 million funding gap in the NUSD budget. In addition to state budget cuts, the district is anticipating cuts to federal monies, further expanding the funding gap in its annual budget.
In the past three years, the district has made cuts totaling over $15 million dollars to NUSD program budgets and resulting in the elimination of more than 140 staff members. These cuts were a result of expiring COVID one-time monies, cuts to the general operating fund and management, and a reduction of direct services for students and families. Any further cuts to the district’s budget will affect the classrooms and student learning.
Local Funding History in NUSD
For over 30 years, Novato voters have authorized a parcel tax measure for NUSD. This funding has enabled the district to keep highly qualified teachers in classrooms, support key academic programs, and fund the overall quality of District schools.
Most recently, Novato voters approved Measure A in 2023. Measure A currently costs property owners $251 per year and generates approximately $4.1 million annually to the NUSD budget. However, because the amount of the tax has not increased since 2009, the revenue of Measure A has not kept pace with inflation.
NUSD Board of Education and Staff are currently researching the possibility of an additional parcel tax measure in accordance with Resolution No. 30-2025/2026 which states:
  • NUSD will eliminate $6.5 million in ongoing reductions beginning in 2027-28 (65-70 FTE)
  • NUSD will pause the hiring of all vacant, non-essential staffing positions
  • NUSD will conduct a cost-benefit analysis of all specialized programs to determine financial viability
  • NUSD will budget for 95% ADA and project for a 30 student enrollment growth per year for planning accuracy
  • NUSD will identify $1.5 million in one-time savings through deferred expenditures or vacancies
  • NUSD will research the possibility and viability of an increase to the District’s existing Parcel Tax to expand ongoing local revenue
Please contact Janell McFarland, Executive Assistant to the CFO, at (415) 493-4290 or jmcfarland@nusd.org with questions or to provide feedback.

Budget Information Resources

Below are recent NUSD budget information resources.  In addition to these documents, Chief Financial Officer Joshua Braff, provided the Board of Trustees with a Budget Update on August 11, 2026. You can view his presentation here (18:30-34:30). 

The previous update is from October 14, 2025.  You can view his update here.