Wednesday, February 10, 2010

Elk Grove Citizen : School district budget crisis: Additional $7 million in cuts?

Elk Grove Citizen : News

School district budget crisis:


Additional $7 million in cuts?

As the estimated revenues for the 2010-11 school budget turned financially ugly last week, it was reported the Elk Grove Unified School District negotiating staff left the teachers union table to review reports the school district could have an additional shortfall of $7 million.

The Elk Grove Education Association said the district had expected to make adjustments in expenditures on a shortfall of $13 million from the state for the school year 2010-11. But there may be another $7 million reduction in state funding.  This is in addition to the $42 million in state cuts already imposed on the district in past years.

Another financial blow in the offing may be an anticipated $7 billion in state funds for schools from the federal government for costs incurred in making the country safe. It doesn’t appear it will be funded.

The additional $7 million hit for Elk Grove appears to be coming from a change in the attendance payments to the school district.


The state earlier said it would be from $201 to $250 reduction in student support.  Taking a mid amount, the school district estimated that they would lose about $13 million. Reductions in sports, libraries, counseling and other cutbacks were being addressed. But it now appears it will cost the district another $7 million with the state taking a full $250 in reductions.

The school board held a closed session Tuesday evening to readdress the new information.

The timeline for addressing layoffs are:

• Layoff Information goes to the board March 2.

• Notices will be out by March 15.

• Hearings will take place in the beginning of April.

• Final layoffs will be by May 15.