Spending plan directs $9.9 million in additional ongoing resources to colleges as enrollment continues to grow.
SANTA ANA, Calif. — The Rancho Santiago Community College District (RSCCD) Board of Trustees approved the district’s fiscal year 2026-27 Adopted Budget on Monday, maintaining a balanced budget while directing additional resources to Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College to support continued enrollment growth and student success.
The adopted budget includes approximately $450.1 million in General Fund expenditures and provides $9.9 million in additional ongoing resources to the colleges through RSCCD’s Budget Allocation Model. The district’s budget across all funds totals approximately $916 million.
The budget comes as RSCCD continues to experience enrollment growth. Based on the state’s July 2026 early recalculation, the district earned approximately $8.45 million in growth revenue during 2025-26 and generated 2,349.66 additional full-time equivalent students (FTES) beyond its funded level, representing approximately $14 million in unfunded enrollment growth. For 2026-27, RSCCD received approximately $4.46 million in additional growth authority from the state.
“A budget is ultimately about priorities,” said Acting Chancellor Iris Ingram, who also serves as RSCCD’s vice chancellor of Business Services. “This budget allows us to invest in our students, employees and colleges while maintaining the fiscal stability the District has worked hard to protect.”
The budget incorporates funding provided through the state’s 2026 Budget Act, including a 2.87% cost-of-living adjustment to the Student Centered Funding Formula (SCFF) and select categorical programs, along with an additional 1.44% discretionary COLA. The state budget also provides funding to support enrollment growth.
RSCCD also maintains its Board-established reserve target of two months of General Fund expenditures. The 2026-27 budget includes a $75 million Board Policy Contingency, equal to 16.67% of budgeted General Fund expenditures, as well as a $3 million Budget Stabilization Fund. Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College begin the fiscal year with approximately $25.3 million in combined carryover balances.
“We continue to operate in an uncertain state funding environment,” Ingram said. “We cannot control what happens in Sacramento, but we can plan for it. Maintaining strong reserves gives us the flexibility to respond to changing conditions while continuing to invest in our colleges and students.”
The 2026-27 budget was developed through RSCCD’s participatory governance process, including review of budget assumptions by the Fiscal Resources Committee, review and recommendation through District Council, with final review and adoption by the Board of Trustees.
Contact:
Eugene W. Fields
Interim Chief Communications Officer
Rancho Santiago Community College District
714.628.5936
fields_eugene@rsccd.edu
About Rancho Santiago Community College District
Rancho Santiago Community College District is one of California’s largest community college districts and includes Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. RSCCD provides credit and noncredit education, transfer pathways, career education and workforce training to students throughout its communities.