Phoenix Union High School District to cut next year's budget by $20 million

The Phoenix Union High School District will cut $20 million from its budget next school year.

District officials say the reduction is necessary as it continues to see declines in enrollment. Just this year, Phoenix Union has lost about 1,800 students.

That’s in addition to a 1,200-student decline last year. In a video message to the community, Superintendent Thea Andrade said reasons for the decline are complex.

“Arizona is consistently ranked at the bottom, as you know, nationally in per-pupil funding," Andrade said. "We’ve also seen a continued expansion of empowerment scholarship accounts or ESAs. In addition, more families may be choosing charter schools.”

Andrade said that, compounded with soaring home prices and lower birth rates, means that fewer families are staying in the area. The district will have to cut staff positions, and a preliminary list of those jobs will be available at the December governing board meeting.

"Approximately 90% of our annual budget is used for employee salaries and benefits," Andrade said. "Therefore, we must reduce positions above and beyond natural attrition due to the sheer size of the budget reduction needed."

Andrade said the positions identified are in line with her promise to protect the classroom as much as possible.

The district estimates an additional $15 million will need to be cut in the 2027–28 school year to stay financially solvent.