Fiscal Responsibility
San José Unified has an outstanding team that is dedicated to providing and advocating for sound fiscal management. We are committed to allocating resources efficiently and transparently to support the highest-quality education for all students.
California Public School Funding
California public school districts receive funding from a variety of federal, state, and local sources. The state uses the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) to determine the minimum amount of funding per student for each public school. For most school districts, local property taxes do not fully cover the LCFF guarantee, and the state funds the shortfall to ensure the district receives its minimum allocation.
In about 10% of districts in the state, local property taxes exceed the LCFF guarantee. These districts are referred to as locally funded, basic aid, or excess tax districts, and they get to keep the property taxes above the LCFF guarantee, increasing their funding per student. In Santa Clara County, about half of the 31 districts are locally funded.
San José Unified became a locally funded district in the 2020-2021 school year. The amount of additional funding available to locally funded districts is based on the amount of excess property tax revenue, which varies widely by district. Our financial and enrollment systems have been adjusted to reflect the new funding model so that we are better positioned to serve the students and families who live within the San José Unified boundaries.
Financial and Budget Reports
Audits
Developer Fees
Parcel Tax
Financial and Budget Reports
San José Unified’s Board of Education reviews and approves financial and budget information, which serve as a roadmap for spending priorities in the coming year.
The budget review process begins in March. The community has multiple opportunities to provide input through board meetings, public hearings, and advisory groups. The proposed budget is brought to the Board of Education for discussion and public hearing before being approved and adopted in June.
The San José Unified Budget Advisory Committee (BAC) advises the Superintendent regarding budget development for each fiscal year. The Superintendent reviews the advice of the committee, along with the priorities of the district’s strategic plan, in preparing a final budget for recommendation to the Board of Education in June.
Budget Reports
- 2023-2024 Fiscal Year
- 2022-2023 Fiscal Year
Unaudited Actuals
LCAP and Budget
First Interim Report
Second Interim Report
Review financial & budget reports from previous fiscal years
Audits
San José Unified prepares its financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles and has them audited by a licensed independent firm.
Copies of audit reports are available below:
Developer Fees
San José Unified collects development fees on new residential and commercial construction within the boundaries of the school district. These fees provide funds for the construction and reconstruction of school facilities and cannot be used for other purposes.
The current developer fees in San José Unified are:
- Residential: $4.79 per square foot
- Commercial/industrial: $0.78 per square foot
- Mini Storage: $0.05 per square foot
Read the 2022-2023 SJUSD Annual and Five-Year Developer Fee Reports
- Who sets the fees?
The State Allocation Board adjusts developer fee rates in January of even-numbered years.
Fees can only be increased when the school district’s Board of Education has completed and
adopted a new justification study. Districts account for the collection of the fees and maintain a
developer fee account that is separate from other funds.- How are fees assessed?
Fees for a residential project are assessed per square foot of accessible space. Fees for
commercial/retail space are assessed per square foot of the entire project.- How do I pay my fees?
When you submit your development project to the City of San José or County of Santa Clara,
you will receive a School District Referral Form. Bring the completed form to the San José
Unified District Office with your payment.We are located at 855 Lenzen Avenue, San José, CA 95126 and our office hours are 8:00am to
5:00pm, Monday through Friday. San José Unified accepts check, cash, or bank draft for
developer fees. We are unable to process credit card transactions.- What if I disagree with the assessment?
Developer fees are calculated based on information provided to San José Unified by the City of
San José or County of Santa Clara on your School District Referral Form. If you disagree with
the information on the School District Referral Form, please resolve the dispute with the City or
County prior to coming to the San José Unified District Office to pay your fees.
For questions, please contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) at (408) 535-6000 ext. 17939.