A public-records reading
The Numbers.
Every project promised in the 2017 Facilities Master Plan, matched against the District's May 21, 2026 Measure LCF Citizens' Oversight Committee Project Expenditure Update (financials as of April 30, 2026). Sources: FMP Section 4 and the Appendix; the May 2026 expenditure update.
2017 FMP total need
$251.9M
Bond authority
$149M
Reported committed (4/30/26)
$123.8M
Avg. overrun (comparable)
+31%
La Cañada Jr./High
9 line items25yd × 33m Pool
CompletedScope enlargement, not a pure overrun: the FMP specified a 25yd × 33m pool; a 40m pool was built. Now $13.64M committed against the $8.45M FMP line — a 61% increase tied to an enlarged scope the community was not asked about.
- FMP 2017
- $8,452,070
- Reported
- $13,643,763
- Δ vs. FMP
- +61%
FMP 2017
$8,452,070
Reported
$13,643,763
Δ vs. FMP
+61%
Safety & Security
CompletedCombines fire alarm/lockdown/access control and fencing ($2.84M + $1.02M + $0.77M). 31% over the FMP estimate; scope composition differs from the FMP definition.
- FMP 2017
- $3,535,029
- Reported
- $4,631,442
- Δ vs. FMP
- +31%
FMP 2017
$3,535,029
Reported
$4,631,442
Δ vs. FMP
+31%
Band Room Modernization
CompletedCame in close to budget; fully spent.
- FMP 2017
- $1,252,860
- Reported
- $1,274,437
- Δ vs. FMP
- +2%
FMP 2017
$1,252,860
Reported
$1,274,437
Δ vs. FMP
+2%
MPR Modernization
Completed33% over the FMP estimate.
- FMP 2017
- $1,419,775
- Reported
- $1,887,674
- Δ vs. FMP
- +33%
FMP 2017
$1,419,775
Reported
$1,887,674
Δ vs. FMP
+33%
Modernization + Building Systems
In progressNot directly comparable: FMP scope (walls/windows/doors/floors/ceilings/paint/roof) is largely undone. Current spend covers surveys, roof repair, lighting, boiler and cooling tower. About $3.4M more (S. Gym HVAC, Central Plant B&E) is budgeted but not started.
- FMP 2017
- $12,371,431
- Reported
- $1,463,369
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$12,371,431
Reported
$1,463,369
Δ vs. FMP
—
Baseball & Softball Fields
In progressNot comparable: FMP natural turf not installed; bleachers not moved.
- FMP 2017
- $1,651,890
- Reported
- $296,889
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$1,651,890
Reported
$296,889
Δ vs. FMP
—
Site Utilities
In progressNot comparable: FMP storm-drain and electrical upgrades not done. Reported amount is largely architect fees to Psomas (~$215K).
- FMP 2017
- $1,790,730
- Reported
- $225,680
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$1,790,730
Reported
$225,680
Δ vs. FMP
—
Bleachers (Stadium VIP)
In progressNot comparable: FMP home and visitor bleachers not built. Reported spend is for VIP/booster seats and architect fees only.
- FMP 2017
- $2,994,600
- Reported
- $18,304
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$2,994,600
Reported
$18,304
Δ vs. FMP
—
Stadium Home Bleachers
MissingListed in the FMP scope prioritization. No record of construction in the May 2026 Measure LCF expenditure update.
- FMP 2017
- $1,574,917
- Reported
- —
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$1,574,917
Reported
—
Δ vs. FMP
—
Paradise Canyon Elementary
5 line items2-Story Classroom Building
In progressNow $23.9M committed — 26% over the original FMP estimate, and not yet complete. (Phase 2 below is a separate, additional project.)
- FMP 2017
- $18,964,509
- Reported
- $23,897,388
- Δ vs. FMP
- +26%
FMP 2017
$18,964,509
Reported
$23,897,388
Δ vs. FMP
+26%
Modernization + Building Systems
In progressNot directly comparable (scope differs), but commitment has grown sharply since 2024: now $10.4M committed ($4.55M expended), up from $2.67M in the April 2024 report.
- FMP 2017
- $3,915,637
- Reported
- $10,401,206
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$3,915,637
Reported
$10,401,206
Δ vs. FMP
—
Safety & Security
Completed81% over the FMP estimate. Composition: $203,885 S&S plus $663,680 fencing.
- FMP 2017
- $478,800
- Reported
- $867,565
- Δ vs. FMP
- +81%
FMP 2017
$478,800
Reported
$867,565
Δ vs. FMP
+81%
Site Utilities
In progressNot comparable: FMP scope (gas, sewer, water, electrical, storm-drain mains) appears unfinished.
- FMP 2017
- $1,373,109
- Reported
- $314,445
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$1,373,109
Reported
$314,445
Δ vs. FMP
—
New Construction — Phase 2
In progressNow $10.4M committed ($1.50M expended), up from $1.21M in April 2024 — no longer 'design only.' Not anticipated in the original 2017 FMP scope.
- FMP 2017
- $0
- Reported
- $10,421,524
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$0
Reported
$10,421,524
Δ vs. FMP
—
Palm Crest Elementary
6 line itemsModernization + Building Systems
Completed199% over the FMP estimate — the largest percentage variance in the program. Caveat: the report subtotal bundles roof repair, playground and surveys that the FMP line did not, so the comparison is semi-comparable.
- FMP 2017
- $3,536,736
- Reported
- $10,589,760
- Δ vs. FMP
- +199%
FMP 2017
$3,536,736
Reported
$10,589,760
Δ vs. FMP
+199%
2-Story Classroom Building
CompletedRoughly 5% over the original FMP estimate.
- FMP 2017
- $18,285,571
- Reported
- $19,188,675
- Δ vs. FMP
- +5%
FMP 2017
$18,285,571
Reported
$19,188,675
Δ vs. FMP
+5%
Site Utilities
Disputed91% over FMP. About $243K of the figure is a fencing entry-adjustment booked against utilities; net of that mis-booking the true overrun is closer to +77%.
- FMP 2017
- $1,745,609
- Reported
- $3,336,738
- Δ vs. FMP
- +91%
FMP 2017
$1,745,609
Reported
$3,336,738
Δ vs. FMP
+91%
Sewer System
CompletedCame in 42% UNDER budget. (The prior version of this site cited a $215,000 FMP baseline and a +99% overrun — both wrong. The FMP Scope Prioritization chart shows $417,093.)
- FMP 2017
- $417,093
- Reported
- $241,640
- Δ vs. FMP
- -42%
FMP 2017
$417,093
Reported
$241,640
Δ vs. FMP
-42%
Parking & Drop-off
CompletedCame in under budget — partial scope.
- FMP 2017
- $1,476,433
- Reported
- $573,660
- Δ vs. FMP
- -61%
FMP 2017
$1,476,433
Reported
$573,660
Δ vs. FMP
-61%
Safety & Security
CompletedUnder budget; only fencing delivered against a much broader FMP S&S scope.
- FMP 2017
- $1,574,917
- Reported
- $403,063
- Δ vs. FMP
- -74%
FMP 2017
$1,574,917
Reported
$403,063
Δ vs. FMP
-74%
La Cañada Elementary
5 line itemsSafety & Security
CompletedUnder budget; delivered scope (playground S&S + fencing) narrower than FMP.
- FMP 2017
- $1,407,944
- Reported
- $1,235,775
- Δ vs. FMP
- -12%
FMP 2017
$1,407,944
Reported
$1,235,775
Δ vs. FMP
-12%
Purchase Salisbury Property
CompletedReal-estate purchase not contemplated in the 2017 FMP.
- FMP 2017
- $0
- Reported
- $1,531,397
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$0
Reported
$1,531,397
Δ vs. FMP
—
HVAC
CompletedNow $996K (Project 95120 plus CalSHAPE), up from just $60K in April 2024. Against the FMP HVAC line of $637K, that is 56% over.
- FMP 2017
- $636,800
- Reported
- $996,417
- Δ vs. FMP
- +56%
FMP 2017
$636,800
Reported
$996,417
Δ vs. FMP
+56%
Modernization + Building Systems
In progressLargely unbuilt. Some HVAC spending (see HVAC line above) is now booked under modernization, so the prior 'zero spend' framing no longer strictly holds.
- FMP 2017
- $5,531,443
- Reported
- —
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$5,531,443
Reported
—
Δ vs. FMP
—
2-Story Classroom Building
MissingThe flagship $16.5M classroom building still shows zero spent. The District has since identified roughly $11.25M as a future New Construction line for LCE, but no construction has begun.
- FMP 2017
- $16,492,153
- Reported
- —
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$16,492,153
Reported
—
Δ vs. FMP
—
District-Wide
1 line itemsDistrict-Wide Technology
DisputedNot directly comparable: the FMP technology line was per-site; the current Districtwide Technology Upgrade subtotal is $1.08M. Scope basis differs.
- FMP 2017
- $5,416,670
- Reported
- $1,083,673
- Δ vs. FMP
- —
FMP 2017
$5,416,670
Reported
$1,083,673
Δ vs. FMP
—
Methodology note
Several line items in the District's report use different scope definitions than the 2017 FMP — "Modernization" sometimes means classroom-wall and window replacement, sometimes only a roof repair. Where the two are not directly comparable we leave the Δ column blank rather than force a number. "Missing" projects are FMP line items with zero reported spend.
The "average overrun (comparable)" stat is dollar-weighted across the like-for-like comparable subset (FMP ~$62.5M vs. ~$81.8M committed) so a small sewer line doesn't weigh the same as a $19M classroom building.
Source documents: LCUSD Facilities Master Plan Sections 4 & 6, and the District's May 21, 2026 Measure LCF Citizens' Oversight Committee Project Expenditure Update (financials as of April 30, 2026). Both are public records. Note: the 2017 FMP baselines were re-verified against the FMP Scope-Prioritization chart; 17 of 18 match to the dollar. The single correction is the Palm Crest Sewer System baseline ($417,093 in the FMP chart, not the $215,000 used in an earlier version of this page).
Read the editorial behind these numbers.
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