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SDLA Compliance Resource

Adopt and Submit the Personnel Commission Budget

An implementation guide for merit-system districts whose personnel commission must hold a public hearing, adopt its budget, and obtain the county superintendent's approval before it is included in the district budget.

  • Fiscal & Budget
  • Human Resources
  • Governance & Board Approval
Date(s)Commission public hearing by May 30, 2027 (unless the board and commission agree to another date aligned with budget adoption); county approval before inclusion in the adopted budget
SourceEC 45253
Applies toSchool districts that have adopted the merit system for classified employees (EC 45240 et seq.)

In Plain Language: In merit-system districts, the personnel commission prepares its own budget. It must hold a public hearing (by May 30 unless another date is agreed), consider the governing board's views, and send its proposed budget to the county superintendent. Once approved, the board must include it in the district's budget.

Why this matters

If the steps are not completed on time, the district adopts a budget that does not include an approved commission budget, and disagreements can fall back to the prior year's amount.

Joint ownership

Personnel commission: prepares and adopts its budget. District: board provides its views; business office integrates the budget. County office: approves or, after a hearing, rejects or amends it.

From a commission budget draft to an approved line in the district budget: the SDLA ITO workflow

This workflow coordinates the commission, the board, and the county on one budget timeline. This SDLA ITO (Input, Transformation, Output) graphic shows how the inputs become the outputs in 9 steps.

SDLA ITO: 9 steps. Input: draft commission budget; board's views; county form. Transformation: hold the public hearing; adopt the proposed budget; submit to the county. Output: county approval; district budget entry; hearing record.
Read down each column, then move to the next: Input identifies what to collect; Transformation covers hold the public hearing; adopt the proposed budget; submit to the county; Output delivers county approval; district budget entry; hearing record. Commission hearing by May 30, 2027; approval before budget adoption.

Open the full-size workflow graphic

Implementation workflow

  1. March–AprilDraft and share.Commission drafts; the board provides its views.
  2. By May 30Hearing and adoption.Commission holds its hearing and adopts the proposed budget.
  3. Late May–JuneCounty approval.Submit to the county superintendent for approval.
  4. Budget adoptionInclude.Board includes the approved commission budget in the district budget.

Personnel commission budget checklist

  • Hearing date set (May 30 or agreed alternative).
  • Board views documented and considered.
  • County approval form submitted.
  • Approved amount included in the adopted budget.

Official guidance and help

Source review completed October 25, 2026. Verify your county office's approval form and schedule; this applies only to merit-system districts.