The state is $44 million behind in money for Napa school construction projects, but American Canyon High School is still expected to open on schedule in the fall, local school officials say.

California’s budget crisis is to blame for a slowdown in the arrival of state matching funds owed to Napa Valley Unified School District for projects approved under Measure G, a $183 million bond approved by voters in 2006, and the $95 million Measure M bond of 2002.

Don Evans, the district’s director of school planning and construction, said the state money virtually always gets to the district between 60 and 90 days from the approval of bond projects.

“It is the first time we’ve ever been in this position,” he said.

To make up for the cash crunch, the district is borrowing from some of its own reserves and is trying to collect anticipated property tax proceeds to keep major construction projects running until the state money arrives, Evans said. More income came from the district’s recent sale one of its properties in Browns Valley — a 10-acre site that brought in about $10 million, Evans said.

About $6 million of that went toward paying the design phase of American Canyon High School. Finally, Napa Valley College owes the district $1.5 million for the three college classrooms going into the new high school site.

Evans said the city of American Canyon owes the district an unspecified amount of money, but the district also owes the city some money, though Evans could not immediately say how much.

Major Measure G projects affected by the state’s cash flow slowdown include the completion of American Canyon High School, renovations of Memorial Stadium and New Technology High School.

To keep these moving along, the district may postpone some smaller projects under Measure G, including updating security systems at various district high and middle schools.

The district is simultaneously struck by a temporary shortage of state money owed for already completed Measure M work at Yountville Elementary School, Valley Oak High School and Harvest Middle School, Evans said.

Expected to arrive anywhere from early 2011 to sometime in 2012, the state money is slated for state-mandated modernizations for campuses at least

25 years old, including making provisions for the Americans With Disabilities Act, switching to more efficient lighting systems, adding insulation and other changes, Evans said.

With so many construction projects under way, the money can’t come fast enough.

“We hope they get it in early 2011 so they can bid other Measure G projects (we’d) have to delay,” Evans said. “But it’s still too early to call that and no one in Sacramento is saying.”

Although the district is feeling the pinch of a slowdown in money from the state, the construction industry is hurting for work.

Evans said most recent district construction jobs are coming in at least 20 percent below anticipated costs. For instance, he said, 18 months ago, Napa New Technology High School’s campus renovation was a $10 million project, but now it will cost just

$8.5 million to complete.

Moreover, the district is fortunate in another way. Unlike with many districts out of the area, most local school construction projects are primarily paid for with bonds and don’t depend as much on state funding. Consequently, the district has avoided having to put the brakes on major projects, whereas many districts are not so lucky, Evans said.

District Board Trustee Jackie Dickson said it’s in the district’s best interests to move ahead with all current major construction projects.

“I’m always concerned about our budget and I do have concerns about the state coming through with funds. But the projects have started and they need to be completed. ... I think it would be more harmful if we halted the projects than to go ahead,” she said.