Community Budget Workshop Notes
Community Budget Workshop Notes
5.13.06
By Nicole Achs Freeling
Greatschools.net Correspondent
A day after Governor Schwarzenegger released a revised budget allocating billions more in funding for schools, SFUSD representatives met with members of the public at a community budget workshop and addressed the impact of this additional money on local schools.
The aim of the workshop was to educate the public about the district's budget and its finances. District representatives provided a detailed discussion of where the district's money comes from, how it is earmarked, and where it is spent. These materials, as well as a copy of the district's recommended budget, are available through the district office. People may send questions to budget@sfusd.edu.
Coming on the heels of the governor's May revise, the workshop also provided an opportunity to take an updated look at budget assumptions based on the new funding projections.
Finding a windfall of unexpected tax revenue in state coffers, the governor has proposed allocating $3 billion in new funds to schools, largely by providing more than the minimum required by Proposition 98, the voter-approved measure that sets school funding formulas. Included is a 5.93 cost-of-living adjustment to the base amount the state is required to pay schools each year, especially valuable because it represents money schools should continue to receive whatever the future years' budget outlooks. However, district representatives noted that even with the new money, Proposition 98 is still being funded well below the level lawmakers promised.
The governor also proposed $933 million in one-time payment to help cover money the state owes to the schools for mandated programs. The state is supposed to give the schools funds to carry out programs and actions state law requires; however, millions of dollars worth of state-required programs have gone unfunded over the years, and districts have had to pay for them out of their own budgets. The governor's proposal covers about half that currently owed to school districts for unfunded mandates.
'Like Buying Curtains for a House You're Burning Down’
SFUSD representatives met the news of the potential new funding with extremely guarded enthusiasm. The problem, according to Vernon Billy, a lobbyist who represents SFUSD in Sacramento, is that fully two-thirds of the money the governor has proposed is earmarked for specific programs, including $250 million for classroom supplies, $250 million for physical education facilities and programs, $250 million for art and music supplies and $250 million for textbooks.
"We might end up with (millions) for new playground equipment and new counselors, and still not have the money to pay our teachers," said Commissioner Jill Wynns. The restrictions are so limiting, she noted, that districts have gone bankrupt with millions of dollars in earmarked funds. "It's like buying curtains for a house you're burning down," she said.
Over the next couple of months, especially toward the end of June when the state adopts its budget, lawmakers will be jockeying over just how much school funding gets allocated for specific programs and how much is given to districts directly. SFUSD representatives urged community members to contact their lawmakers and ask them to push for unrestricted funds.
SFUSD Budget Outlook Today
Before the May revise, the district had been expecting a deficit of $6 million for the coming school year and almost $14 million the following year, according to Myong Leigh, chief of policy and planning. Those budget projections account both for increased costs due to recent bargaining agreements, such as that with the teachers union; the savings accrued through school closings, representing about $2.5 million; and a one-time increase to revenue of about $5 million for the long-term lease by City College of the current site of Newcomer High School and other facilities.
The new money the governor has promised would bring about $3 million in ongoing funds to the district and as much as $8 million in one-time monies. It is unclear when the money will arrive, however, or what restrictions will be placed upon it. That makes adjusting its current budget difficult.
The $6 million deficit represents a gap in unrestricted general funds; therefore, the degree to which the new money can help cover the deficit depends upon how much of the new state money comes through as unrestricted funds.
The school board’s budget committee has proposed the following cuts to cover this year's deficit: (see update below)
"The silver lining is that, although we have a lot of reason to prefer this cornucopia of funds be unrestricted, if you look at the programs that are being funded – art, school supplies, PE facilities – they will go (to restore) a lot of the things we've cut or are thinking of cutting," Leigh said.
The BOE will be introducing a discussion on the budget at its next regular board meeting, May 23. A more thorough discussion will take place at a Committee of the Whole meeting, date to be announced. The board is scheduled to adopt the budget on June 13, its first regular meeting that month.
Email comments to sfschoolnotes@greatschoolsnet
Update: The notes for the workshop on May 13 incorrectly stated the size of cuts proposed to cover this year’s budget shortfall. Here are the correct numbers:
5.13.06
By Nicole Achs Freeling
Greatschools.net Correspondent
- District Officials Detail Impact of May Revise
- 'Like Buying Curtains for a House You're Burning Down’
- SFUSD Budget Outlook Today
A day after Governor Schwarzenegger released a revised budget allocating billions more in funding for schools, SFUSD representatives met with members of the public at a community budget workshop and addressed the impact of this additional money on local schools.
The aim of the workshop was to educate the public about the district's budget and its finances. District representatives provided a detailed discussion of where the district's money comes from, how it is earmarked, and where it is spent. These materials, as well as a copy of the district's recommended budget, are available through the district office. People may send questions to budget@sfusd.edu.
Coming on the heels of the governor's May revise, the workshop also provided an opportunity to take an updated look at budget assumptions based on the new funding projections.
Finding a windfall of unexpected tax revenue in state coffers, the governor has proposed allocating $3 billion in new funds to schools, largely by providing more than the minimum required by Proposition 98, the voter-approved measure that sets school funding formulas. Included is a 5.93 cost-of-living adjustment to the base amount the state is required to pay schools each year, especially valuable because it represents money schools should continue to receive whatever the future years' budget outlooks. However, district representatives noted that even with the new money, Proposition 98 is still being funded well below the level lawmakers promised.
The governor also proposed $933 million in one-time payment to help cover money the state owes to the schools for mandated programs. The state is supposed to give the schools funds to carry out programs and actions state law requires; however, millions of dollars worth of state-required programs have gone unfunded over the years, and districts have had to pay for them out of their own budgets. The governor's proposal covers about half that currently owed to school districts for unfunded mandates.
'Like Buying Curtains for a House You're Burning Down’
SFUSD representatives met the news of the potential new funding with extremely guarded enthusiasm. The problem, according to Vernon Billy, a lobbyist who represents SFUSD in Sacramento, is that fully two-thirds of the money the governor has proposed is earmarked for specific programs, including $250 million for classroom supplies, $250 million for physical education facilities and programs, $250 million for art and music supplies and $250 million for textbooks.
"We might end up with (millions) for new playground equipment and new counselors, and still not have the money to pay our teachers," said Commissioner Jill Wynns. The restrictions are so limiting, she noted, that districts have gone bankrupt with millions of dollars in earmarked funds. "It's like buying curtains for a house you're burning down," she said.
Over the next couple of months, especially toward the end of June when the state adopts its budget, lawmakers will be jockeying over just how much school funding gets allocated for specific programs and how much is given to districts directly. SFUSD representatives urged community members to contact their lawmakers and ask them to push for unrestricted funds.
SFUSD Budget Outlook Today
Before the May revise, the district had been expecting a deficit of $6 million for the coming school year and almost $14 million the following year, according to Myong Leigh, chief of policy and planning. Those budget projections account both for increased costs due to recent bargaining agreements, such as that with the teachers union; the savings accrued through school closings, representing about $2.5 million; and a one-time increase to revenue of about $5 million for the long-term lease by City College of the current site of Newcomer High School and other facilities.
The new money the governor has promised would bring about $3 million in ongoing funds to the district and as much as $8 million in one-time monies. It is unclear when the money will arrive, however, or what restrictions will be placed upon it. That makes adjusting its current budget difficult.
The $6 million deficit represents a gap in unrestricted general funds; therefore, the degree to which the new money can help cover the deficit depends upon how much of the new state money comes through as unrestricted funds.
The school board’s budget committee has proposed the following cuts to cover this year's deficit: (see update below)
- $2 million in cuts to the “weighted student formula,” which allocates funds directly to schools based on the makeup of their student populations
- $500 less for student nutrition (some of these expenses this year were due to a sick-out and threatened strike by cafeteria workers)
- $800 less for transportation, which could be accomplished by changing school start times to more efficiently configure bus routes.
- $500 in central office cuts
- $1.2 million less for special education funding
"The silver lining is that, although we have a lot of reason to prefer this cornucopia of funds be unrestricted, if you look at the programs that are being funded – art, school supplies, PE facilities – they will go (to restore) a lot of the things we've cut or are thinking of cutting," Leigh said.
The BOE will be introducing a discussion on the budget at its next regular board meeting, May 23. A more thorough discussion will take place at a Committee of the Whole meeting, date to be announced. The board is scheduled to adopt the budget on June 13, its first regular meeting that month.
Email comments to sfschoolnotes@greatschoolsnet
Update: The notes for the workshop on May 13 incorrectly stated the size of cuts proposed to cover this year’s budget shortfall. Here are the correct numbers:
- $2 million in cuts to the "weighted student formula," which allocates funds directly to schools based on the makeup of their student populations
- $500,000 less for student nutrition (some of these expenses this year were due to a sick-out and threatened strike by cafeteria workers)
- $800,000 less for transportation, which could be accomplished by changing school start times to more efficiently configure bus routes.
- $500,000 in central office cuts
- $1.2 million less for special education funding
Labels: Nutrition, School Board Notes, SFUSD Politics
1 Comments:
Will these cuts still occur despite the new money Arnold has promised?
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