LBUSD Finance 101: How Our Schools Are Funded — A FUEL Webinar

This is FUEL's hosted community webinar on Laguna Beach Unified School District finance, recorded in early 2025. Acting Superintendent Jeff Dixon and Board Member D. Perry joined FUEL board member Iva Pawling to walk community members through the basics of how LBUSD is funded and managed.

Topics covered include:

How LBUSD operates as a Basic Aid (community-funded) district and what that means for property tax revenue and financial stability. The difference between LBUSD and a typical LCFF district. How the district develops its annual budget and what the two required interim reports reveal. What unmodified audit results mean and why they matter. How special education is funded and why federal cuts would not impact student services. The history and mechanics of the district's general obligation bond, set to be paid off in 2028. What a certificate of participation (COP) is and how it differs from a bond. The potential for a bond extension that would unlock $80 million for facilities at no additional cost to property owners.

This webinar was produced in response to widespread community questions about LBUSD finances, the pool project, and how our schools are funded. It is one hour long and is intended for any Laguna Beach resident who wants to better understand where the money comes from and how it is managed.