CUSD budget boosts outlook
Author: Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
CLAREMONT - Claremont Unified School District's first interim budget report of the school year has turned out a little better than expected, school officials said.
As a result, class sizes in the district's kindergarten through third grades will remain at 24 students per teacher.
Transportation funds will continue to be severely limited and fewer dollars will go to the adult school.
"Right now, with the current assumptions, it makes the bottom line adequate enough so if we get major cuts we can absorb them for one year," said Lisa Shoemaker, assistant superintendent of business services, at Thursday's board meeting.
As a result, class sizes in the district's kindergarten through third grades will remain at 24 students per teacher.
Transportation funds will continue to be severely limited and fewer dollars will go to the adult school.
"Right now, with the current assumptions, it makes the bottom line adequate enough so if we get major cuts we can absorb them for one year," said Lisa Shoemaker, assistant superintendent of business services, at Thursday's board meeting.
"We'll take next year and plan for how we can accommodate those cuts in the future."
Some improved state funding as well as federal jobs funding revenue have improved the outlook for the rest of the school year.
These conditions have "made the bottom line look significantly better," said Shoemaker.
But at the same time, Shoemaker warned this positive outlook is somewhat of an illusion because of the uncertainly of state funding.
"It's all just paper numbers, assumptions that are being handed to us," Shoemaker said.
Next month, Shoemaker said, a new, negative budget will be released as Gov.-elect Jerry Brown tries to deal with a budget that carries a $25 billion deficit, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.
"Incoming Governor Brown has made it very clear there is no way education can be spared," Shoemaker said. "What we do believe is there won't be midyear cuts this year. The impact will be borne next year."
General fund revenue and expenditures show excess revenue projections of more than $3.4 million for the current school year.
That number, while still positive, drops to more than $567,000 in 2011-12 and more than $539,000 in 2012-13.
The reserve fund balance is more than $8.6 million for this school year but falls to about $7.5 million in 2011-12 and $6.3 million in 2012-13.
Dan Evans, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Office, said, "When Governor Brown comes out with his proposal for the budget, that will be a time when we'll look at things and start making assumptions for districts.
"I think everybody right now is in a conservative mode."
Some improved state funding as well as federal jobs funding revenue have improved the outlook for the rest of the school year.
These conditions have "made the bottom line look significantly better," said Shoemaker.
But at the same time, Shoemaker warned this positive outlook is somewhat of an illusion because of the uncertainly of state funding.
"It's all just paper numbers, assumptions that are being handed to us," Shoemaker said.
Next month, Shoemaker said, a new, negative budget will be released as Gov.-elect Jerry Brown tries to deal with a budget that carries a $25 billion deficit, according to the nonpartisan Legislative Analyst's Office.
"Incoming Governor Brown has made it very clear there is no way education can be spared," Shoemaker said. "What we do believe is there won't be midyear cuts this year. The impact will be borne next year."
General fund revenue and expenditures show excess revenue projections of more than $3.4 million for the current school year.
That number, while still positive, drops to more than $567,000 in 2011-12 and more than $539,000 in 2012-13.
The reserve fund balance is more than $8.6 million for this school year but falls to about $7.5 million in 2011-12 and $6.3 million in 2012-13.
Dan Evans, spokesman for the San Bernardino County Superintendent of Schools Office, said, "When Governor Brown comes out with his proposal for the budget, that will be a time when we'll look at things and start making assumptions for districts.
"I think everybody right now is in a conservative mode."
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