NHUSD's operating budget and Measure N bond funds serve different purposes and follow different rules. This page explains the distinction, what trustees should monitor, and where residents can verify the information.
NHUSD's operating budget and Measure N bond funds serve different purposes and follow different rules. This page explains the distinction, what trustees should monitor, and where residents can verify the information.
These funds serve different purposes and are governed by different rules, so they should be tracked and reported separately.
Measure N authorized up to $272 million in general obligation bonds for school facilities. NHUSD manages bond projects through its Facilities and Construction Department and publishes financial and performance audits of Measure N.
Property owners repay the bonds through property taxes. The district estimated an average annual levy of $60 per $100,000 of assessed value, generating approximately $17.2 million per year while the bonds are outstanding.
The operating budget supports the district's ongoing programs, employees, services, and day-to-day operations. NHUSD adopted its current 2026–27 budget on June 16, 2026.
NHUSD's largest operating revenue source
For eligible school facility projects
High school renovation currently in design
Official Sources: NHUSD 2026-27 Budget Adoption, June 16, 2026, and the adopted budget document; NHUSD Measure N Financial and Performance Audits; the NHUSD Superintendent's Fall 2026 message; Alameda County Registrar of Voters, official Measure N text and County Counsel analysis; California Department of Education, Local Control Funding Formula overview and interim status reporting.
Information current as of August 2026 and based on official NHUSD records. District budgets and project information may be updated after publication; see the linked official sources for the latest information.
NHUSD enrollment has declined from 12,171 students in 2015-16 to 9,956 in 2025-26, a decrease of about 18%. Declining enrollment is affecting school districts across California, driven in part by broader demographic trends that are outside a local district's control.
A school district cannot control broader demographic trends, but it can influence whether local families choose and remain in NHUSD. For trustees, that means understanding why students leave, tracking enrollment and transfer patterns, supporting strong academic programs and meaningful course options, and paying attention to the overall student experience. It also means using realistic enrollment and attendance projections in long-term financial planning.
Enrollment matters financially because California school funding is tied in part to student attendance. The relationship is not one-to-one, however. LCFF funding also reflects state funding levels, student needs, and other factors. NHUSD's adopted 2026-27 budget projects enrollment of 9,884 students, funded average daily attendance of about 9,353, and an LCFF funding level of approximately $132.5 million.
Official Source: California Department of Education; DataQuest Annual Enrollment Reports
Budget adoption is only one checkpoint. Interim reports update projections for revenue, enrollment, staffing, costs, and reserves throughout the year. These are some of the key indicators trustees should monitor as those numbers change.
Are recurring revenues keeping pace with recurring commitments, or is the district relying on reserves or one-time money to cover ongoing expenses?
Do current projections maintain required reserves while preserving enough flexibility for unexpected costs and changing conditions?
Enrollment and attendance are key inputs in school funding. Trustees should compare projections with actual enrollment and attendance throughout the year and make sure budget projections and long-term planning are based on realistic student counts.
Are project scope, spending, schedules, and significant changes being reported in a way that residents can actually follow?
A trustee’s job is not just to approve a budget. It is to ask the right questions, understand the long-term impact of major decisions, and make sure the public can follow how taxpayer dollars are being used.