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Budget Saving Ideas: The Budget Suggestion webpage is now closed. Thank you to everyone that submitted an idea. We are currently compiling all suggestions and will post the final results within the next few days. See a sampling of suggestions  . |
Overview
On January 10th, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger released a proposed budget for 2008-09 that would make significant cuts to all sectors of government, including a cut to public education of $400 million for this current year, and a $4.4 billion cut for 2008-09. The proposed cuts for next year would require suspending Proposition 98, a constitutional amendment approved by voters in November 1988 that guarantees a minimum funding level from the state and property taxes for K-14 public schools.
While the state’s budget situation evolves, school districts must plan for several different scenarios and identify the issues that will impact individual district budgets.
Some of the budget pressures facing SDUSD for 2008-09 include:- The anticipated impact of the Governor’s proposed education budget reductions
- Negotiated salary increases
- Health and welfare costs continue to rise disproportionately
- Need to eliminate deficit spending
- Reduction in Title I funding and other federal grants
- Reductions in the state’s funding for ‘categorical’ programs
- New restrictions on uses of these state categorical funds
- Rising costs in all areas of school operations
What We're Doing About It
The district is required to have a balanced budget each year by June 30. For SDUSD, it means reducing the budget by about $78 million to address the cuts proposed by Governor Schwarzenegger along with other budget pressures, such as rising operating expenses and the maintenance of salary schedules and benefits. Our budgeting priority is to keep the cuts away from the classroom as much as possible.
Actions taken to date include:
Bell Time Adjustments at 59 Select Schools
On March 11, the Board of Education approved a bell time adjustment proposal that affects 59 schools and results in a $2.9 million savings to the district. The change will take effect in September, at the opening of the 2008-2009 school year. Read more
Across the Board Reductions of the Central Offices
All central offices – from HR to IT to were asked to make across the board cuts to staff and operating expenses by a minimum of 15% percent, and some as deep as 20%. This resulted in about $18.4 million in cuts and the potential elimination of 200 positions.
Reductions and Realignment of Centrally-Funded Programs and Resources
Centrally-provided programs and services such as curriculum area resource teachers, maintenance and other programs were reduced, resulting in cuts and eliminations of positions. This action also resulted in the change of allocations of certain types of positions, such as nurses, counselors and Special Education paraprofessionals, which provide direct services to schools.
School Site Budget Reductions
School sites received their budget workbooks after reductions at the central level were identified. Depending on type and projected enrollment, schools were asked to set aside between 3% and 10% in response to proposed reductions in staffing allocations and services. These reductions are not final. If our state funding scenario improves, some of the set-aside funding can be restored to the schools.
While the Governor will not release his updated budget proposal until May, school districts must develop preliminary budgets now. Districts are required, by law, to notice credentialed employees, such as teachers, counselors, nurses, librarians, principals and vice-principals, by March 15 of each year if their positions could be reduced or eliminated. The Board of Education passed a resolution at its March 11 meeting in order to meet the legal requirement. Should the budget situation improve, the notices would be rescinded.
What's Next
Our budget timeline for March, April and May calls for ongoing review of the school site and central office submissions to build the overall district budget. In the meantime, the legislature continues its budget discussions in Sacramento. In May, we will receive the governor’s proposed budget revision – also known as the “May Revise.” It is one of several key dates leading to our June 30 deadline for passing a balanced budget.
The Board of Education continues to welcome comment from the public at scheduled meetings regarding the budget. A series of informational meetings is being planned for late April and May to update our community on the budget process and provide the latest information about what you can do to advocate for adequate funding for California schools.
