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District plans for shortfall
While the Colorado Joint Budget Committee attempts to plug the $850 million hole in Colorado's budget, Douglas County School District has begun to prepare for the inevitable rescission of state money, said Chris Stutler, district chief financial officer.
By By: Susan Dage-Ruby
While the Colorado Joint Budget Committee attempts to plug the $850 million hole in Colorado's budget, Douglas County School District has begun to prepare for the inevitable rescission of state money, said Chris Stutler, district chief financial officer.
"We are trying to be ready for a 1 percent or 2 percent reduction," Stutler said.
To that end, an ad hoc committee has been formed, Stutler said.
The ad hoc committee is made up of district staff, teachers, principals and parents.
Part of its responsibilities will be to set reductions in what is expected revenue in next year's budget, Stutler said.
"The slowing economy and the uncertainty of school financing at the state level has the district facing a possible $8 million reduction, which is approximately 3 percent of the 2003-2004 budget," Stutler said.
The ad hoc committee also will prepare for the possible reductions needed to balance this year's budget if the Colorado Legislature calls for a reduction in appropriated money for education, Stutler said.
As part of its duties, the joint budget committee also looks at areas in the budget where funds can be taken back to balance the state's budget, the Colorado Legislature Web site said.
"In order to balance the budget under the governor's proposal, an additional $51 million from the education fund will have to be appropriated by the budget committee to supplant general fund dollars," said a legislative briefing published by Colorado Association of School Executives. Among the items the joint budget committee has earmarked as a possible area for reappropriations is charter school capital construction. Charter schools could be asked to return any unencumbered funds to the state, the association's publication said.
Also on the list is the school lunch program, pending a guarantee that federal money will not be lost because of the reduction of this item; a summer school grant program for unsatisfactory Colorado Student Assessment Program performance; and a possible reduction in CSAP testing programs that are not federally required.
On the home front, Douglas County School District is gearing up for the possible reduction in textbook allotments per student and other per student funding from the state, Stutler said.
The state sends its funding to the school district on a monthly basis, Stutler said.
"I hope we have more than a month's notice of the reduction," she said. "We are at the state's mercy."
"We are trying to be ready for a 1 percent or 2 percent reduction," Stutler said.
To that end, an ad hoc committee has been formed, Stutler said.
The ad hoc committee is made up of district staff, teachers, principals and parents.
Part of its responsibilities will be to set reductions in what is expected revenue in next year's budget, Stutler said.
"The slowing economy and the uncertainty of school financing at the state level has the district facing a possible $8 million reduction, which is approximately 3 percent of the 2003-2004 budget," Stutler said.
The ad hoc committee also will prepare for the possible reductions needed to balance this year's budget if the Colorado Legislature calls for a reduction in appropriated money for education, Stutler said.
As part of its duties, the joint budget committee also looks at areas in the budget where funds can be taken back to balance the state's budget, the Colorado Legislature Web site said.
"In order to balance the budget under the governor's proposal, an additional $51 million from the education fund will have to be appropriated by the budget committee to supplant general fund dollars," said a legislative briefing published by Colorado Association of School Executives. Among the items the joint budget committee has earmarked as a possible area for reappropriations is charter school capital construction. Charter schools could be asked to return any unencumbered funds to the state, the association's publication said.
Also on the list is the school lunch program, pending a guarantee that federal money will not be lost because of the reduction of this item; a summer school grant program for unsatisfactory Colorado Student Assessment Program performance; and a possible reduction in CSAP testing programs that are not federally required.
On the home front, Douglas County School District is gearing up for the possible reduction in textbook allotments per student and other per student funding from the state, Stutler said.
The state sends its funding to the school district on a monthly basis, Stutler said.
"I hope we have more than a month's notice of the reduction," she said. "We are at the state's mercy."
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