Chaffey district budget deficit is now more than $11 million, and cutting
Anticipating sharp cuts in state funding, the Chaffey Joint Union High School District has already made $1.7 million in midyear budget cuts.
But they're not enough.
By the time the 2009-10 budget takes effect July 1, the district must make cuts equaling more than $11million unless more money is forthcoming from the state, Don Bertucci, the district's business administrator, said at Tuesday evening's school board meeting.
The district's original deficit, based on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's January budget proposals, was set at $13.65 million.
The district has monitored budget discussions taking place at the state level and has created a budget committee, composed of district management members, parents, former board members and union members.
The committee's responsibility is to make recommendations to the board of trustees.
At the committee's most recent meeting Monday a recommendation of $2.5million in program cuts was proposed in addition to $1.7 million in other reductions already enacted.
The committee's proposals include cuts to the GATE program, elimination of Arts and Music Block Grants, School and Library Improvement Block Grant, freeze on band uniform replacement, cancellation of internal auditor contract, less use of insect control and a freeze on choral musical allocation.
The previous $1.7 million cuts were made in maintenance, equipment purchases and salaries.
Fifty-one preliminary layoff notes for 2009-10 went out earlier this month to teachers and other staff members.
In addition, Bertucci said, pay cuts to all district employes have not been brought up as yet because they would have to be negotiated with the union.
While the district has made cuts and continues to make more, there are still several unknown details that will impact the budget, Bertucci said.
"We still don't know how the May 19 statewide special election will impact us, the potential of additional cuts to the schools because of the $8 billion hole announced last weekend, and how the federal stimulus package will impact us," he said.
The state recently announced the deficit originally dealt with in the governor's budget revision has turned out to be $8 billion greater than originally believed.
During Tuesday's meeting Bertucci also went over the three ballot measures that will appear in the May 19 election - Proposition 1A, the Rainy Day Budget Stabilization Fund; Proposition 1B, Education Funding Payment Plan; and Proposition 1C, Lottery Modernization Act.
During board comments, board member Charles Uhalley called Proposition 1A ridiculous.
"It doesn't make sense to go to the citizens of California and say we need a rainy day fund when the rain is pouring through the house - it's just irresponsible," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
But they're not enough.
By the time the 2009-10 budget takes effect July 1, the district must make cuts equaling more than $11million unless more money is forthcoming from the state, Don Bertucci, the district's business administrator, said at Tuesday evening's school board meeting.
The district's original deficit, based on Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's January budget proposals, was set at $13.65 million.
The district has monitored budget discussions taking place at the state level and has created a budget committee, composed of district management members, parents, former board members and union members.
The committee's responsibility is to make recommendations to the board of trustees.
At the committee's most recent meeting Monday a recommendation of $2.5million in program cuts was proposed in addition to $1.7 million in other reductions already enacted.
The committee's proposals include cuts to the GATE program, elimination of Arts and Music Block Grants, School and Library Improvement Block Grant, freeze on band uniform replacement, cancellation of internal auditor contract, less use of insect control and a freeze on choral musical allocation.
The previous $1.7 million cuts were made in maintenance, equipment purchases and salaries.
Fifty-one preliminary layoff notes for 2009-10 went out earlier this month to teachers and other staff members.
In addition, Bertucci said, pay cuts to all district employes have not been brought up as yet because they would have to be negotiated with the union.
While the district has made cuts and continues to make more, there are still several unknown details that will impact the budget, Bertucci said.
"We still don't know how the May 19 statewide special election will impact us, the potential of additional cuts to the schools because of the $8 billion hole announced last weekend, and how the federal stimulus package will impact us," he said.
The state recently announced the deficit originally dealt with in the governor's budget revision has turned out to be $8 billion greater than originally believed.
During Tuesday's meeting Bertucci also went over the three ballot measures that will appear in the May 19 election - Proposition 1A, the Rainy Day Budget Stabilization Fund; Proposition 1B, Education Funding Payment Plan; and Proposition 1C, Lottery Modernization Act.
During board comments, board member Charles Uhalley called Proposition 1A ridiculous.
"It doesn't make sense to go to the citizens of California and say we need a rainy day fund when the rain is pouring through the house - it's just irresponsible," he said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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