Manhattan Beach Unified School District will be impacted by state budget cuts in the 2012 fiscal year, a district official said.
California legislature passed the state budget on June 28, making cuts to programs and education to close the state’s $26 billion deficit. The budget estimates an additional $4 billion in general fund revenue to the $2.6 billion in revenue estimated in May.
A shortfall of $2 billion in these state revenues will trigger a mid-year cut for schools – cuts that school district officials deem inevitable. “The state cannot generate $6.6 billion more than the already inflated amount the state says they’re going to bring in,” said Steve Romines, the district’s assistant superintendent of administrative services.
This would mean $2 million less in state funds for Manhattan Beach schools. The school district anticipated cuts last January and decreased expenditures by $1 million. This year, it would have to cover the $1 million remaining using the $9.5 million in reserves.
The following year, the district will have to spend an additional $2 million using reserves to cover expenditures if state cuts occur. Romines anticipates having to cut about eight teaching positions, and as a result, increase class sizes. “We could not afford just to live off $9 million, taking $2 million out every single year,” he said. “Never spend one-time moneys on ongoing expenses, if you can avoid it.”
The state budget also authorized school districts to cut seven more days – in addition to the existing five days already authorized by state law – if the budget gets too tight. The Manhattan Beach community and school board would not allow this to happen, Romines said. “We’re third in the state in test scores, and well on our way to be first in the state,” he said. “Our community will not let this temporary economic downturn, even though it’s serious, affect the education of their children.”
The Education Foundation has been very helpful in raising money and helping fund programs, Romines said. The foundation contributes about $5 million to the $50 million overall budget. “If we didn’t have them, 10 percent of our instructional programs would not exist,” Romines said.
Romines is confident in the school board and optimistic about the district’s future. “The key thing is to pay very close attention to what’s happening in Sacramento,” he said, “and pay very close attention to our expenditures and be very conservative in those expenditures, and we’ll be fine.” ER
