See How Much Pajaro Valley Unified School District Workers Earned

WATSONVILLE, CA — It’s budget season for California school districts. As the annual ritual of work sessions and public hearings begins in earnest, administrators and school board members will be sharpening their pencils in an effort to make ends meet for the next school year.

Although Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposed 2020-21 budget increases state general fund spending for basic K-12 education to $61.6 billion which includes $3.15 billion to help reduce school districts’ annual contributions to the state Teachers’ and Public Employees’ Retirement Funds and pay down the unfunded portion of those pension funds, California’s 1,037 school districts must still scrounge for additional money.

While employees individually contribute toward their pensions, when the additional contributions school districts are required to make — coupled with the costs of Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) covering healthcare benefits for retirees — are factored into total compensation the costs can be substantial.

Despite state, federal and local funding, much of it apportioned on the basis of enrollment which is dwindling in many districts, school officials must continue to grapple with increasing employee costs, expenses that consume the lion’s share of a district’s total General Fund revenue. At the same time, school officials must budget funds for books and supplies, operating expenses and other costs.

For example, during the 2018-19 fiscal year teacher and other employee salaries and benefits paid by the Pajaro Valley Unified School District totaled $226.9 million, 89% of its $254.8 million General Fund revenue. Over the past five years these expenses have increased 33% while revenue grew by just 30.7%.

In 2018, the most recent period for which payroll records are available because they’re reported on a calendar, or tax, year basis which encompasses portions of two school years, total compensation for Pajaro Valley Unified’s 10 highest-paid employees totaled $1.92 million.

— Special Correspondent Bob Porterfield contributed to this article

See what school district employees took home below:

Note: Scroll to the right for more information on what employees earned and received in benefits and other pay. Scroll down for more names. Employee names and titles are listed as reflect in school records. This chart is best viewed on a computer.