With state legislators pounding out details on how to alleviate
a $23.6 billion budget deficit, local schools are bracing for what
seems like an inevitable mid-year budget crisis.
With state legislators pounding out details on how to alleviate a $23.6 billion budget deficit, local schools are bracing for what seems like an inevitable mid-year budget crisis.
Gov. Gray Davis proposed $10.2 billion in state spending cuts, including $3.1 billion in cuts to public school spending, to battle California’s massive budget deficit.
San Benito County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley said it was the worst news of his 40-plus-year professional career.
“It’s 3.66 percent of projected cuts in money to schools that are basically already committed and spent,” Foley said. “It’s money promised in salary and contracts and the state has pulled out the rug from under us.”
Davis proposed an immediate 3.66 percent in across-the-board cuts to elementary and high schools and community colleges that would trim $1.7 billion from the state’s $98.9 billion budget. Education spending accounts for $46 billion of the current budget.
If the governor’s proposals are implemented every school district in the county will be forced to make cuts in a budget that was already established at the beginning of the school year.
Foley will work closely with the school districts in the county to make sure the schools are fiscally sound and do not have a budget deficit.
“Everything has to be looked at,” Foley said. “(School districts) are going to have to figure out what to cut. Anything left that’s not absolutely essential will have to addressed and considered for elimination.”
For San Benito High School, which is operating under a $700,000 deficit, the mid-year cuts would compound the school’s budget problems.
The 3.66 percent budget cuts would mean about $600,000 to $700,000 in cuts for the high school, SBHS Superintendent Dick Lowry said.
“Realistically speaking this is going to have a significant and very negative impact on operation of the school district,” Lowry said. “Just about every area of operation will be impacted.”
Lowry, who will retire in January, will work closely with new superintendent Jean Slater, the school board and representatives from the teachers and classified associations to determine where to make cutbacks. The first step will be an immediate hiring freeze, Lowry.
About 79 percent of the school’s budget goes toward salaries and benefits while 14 percent goes toward contract services, making 93 percent of the budget locked in and 50 percent of the remaining amount already spent, Lowry said.
Last year, the state eliminated $3 billion in education statewide, Lowry said.
Aromas San Juan Unified School District Superintendent Jackie Munoz likened the situation to a “jet in mid-air, being ordered to let out all the fuel.”
The district has a declining enrollment and was forced to make cuts last year by giving early retirements for two workers and laying off about five employees who were eventually hired back, Munoz said.
“It’s going to be very difficult. We’re pretty much at bare bones right now,” she said.
California’s colleges warned they may have to offer fewer courses and consider fee increases.
For Gavilan College, where attendance increased by 14 percent in the fall semester, the cutbacks would mean a reduction in the number of classes. The school has already eliminated some classes this year with low enrollments and duplicate subjects.
“Certainly these cuts from the state come at a very bad time simply because more and more students are returning to college to upgrade their skills and continue their education,” said Marty Johnson, Gavilan College’s interim president.
Gavilan has about 500 students that are not being funded by the state, Johnson said, and a growth rate that is one of the highest in the state.
“The community colleges are a traditional way for a state to bring itself out of a recession by having training for skilled people in the workplace,” Johnson said. “It’s unfortunately at a time when demand is greatest funds are being cut.”
Tom Nussbaum, chancellor of the California Community College system, said the cuts will translate into “increased class sizes, reduced offerings and deferring purchases of equipment” at the 103 campuses statewide.
Davis’ plan would remove $74 million from the University of California’s current budget of almost $4 billion. The California State University system would see a $60 million cut from its almost $3 billion budget and the community college system would cut $200 million during 18 months.
The UC system is considering a fee increase for students while the CSU system is analyzing its revenue and projected expenses to determine if increases are needed.
In a press release, Mary Bergan, president of the California Federation of Teachers, said it is not reasonable for California lawmakers to implement mid-year cuts and expect school officials to juggle programs or eliminate services mid-year.
“The impact on California children will go well beyond the education reduction. The loss of health care, childcare and other health and social services will hurt students, performance at school in trying to meet our new higher standards,” Bergan said in the release.
At this point Davis has merely set proposals and California legislators will work out the details with an expected decision at the end of January.
Although California Democrats are pushing for statewide tax increases, GOP leaders have balked at any increase and Democrats need Republican votes to increase taxes.
