Board takes steps to close budget gap

January 20, 2010 Update

Early in the January 20 Governing Board meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Business Services Michael Johnston presented a brief update on the impact of the Governor’s 2010-2011 budget proposal on Clovis Unified.  Though the Governor pledged to protect funding for public education, his initial budget proposal includes more than $1.5 billion in new cuts to California’s schools, which translates to an additional $8.2 million in cuts that Clovis Unified will have to absorb into its 2010-2011 budget.

The new reductions consist primarily of additional on-going cuts to per pupil revenue and a first ever negative cost of living adjustment (COLA) of -.38% to all funding sources.  According to Johnston, the proposed cuts are in addition to previous State budget reductions totaling $19.8 million, bringing the total cuts necessary to balance Clovis Unified’s 2010-2011 budget to $28 million.  Including an additional list of budget reductions approved by the Board later in the Jan. 20 meeting, to date $12.8 million in reductions have been approved.

The Board will spend the next two months working with the District’s administration to identify another $15.1 million in reductions that must be made to ensure Clovis Unified has a balanced budget moving into 2010-2011.  Johnston also cautioned that there will be many revisions to the State’s current 2010-2011 budget proposal before it is approved by the legislature and Governor, which may result in even greater reductions in funding to public schools.   Operating off of the current budget proposal, a third round of reductions will be recommended to the Board in late February.

In response to this update, members of the Board and Superintendent Dr. Dave Cash reaffirmed the District’s commitment to protecting the jobs of existing employees and maintaining CUSD’s high quality educational program, even while preparing to make dramatic reductions to the District’s already stretched budget. 

December 9, 2009 Update

Before the start of their regularly scheduled meeting on December 9, 2009, the Governing Board participated in a workshop on the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 District budget.  California’s currently adopted budget has resulted in the need to reduce more than $16 million from the District’s on-going general fund budget, with that number increasing to $19.8 million in 2010-11.  During the workshop, the Board discussed a list of possible budget reductions that were created by a Budget Standards Committee made up of parents, employees, business representatives and members of the Governing Board. Included in the Budget Standards Committee discussions were more than 150 budget saving suggestions submitted by community members and employees over the past several months.

Later that night, the Board took a significant step toward closing the budget gap by approving $10.8 million in reductions for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.  Implementation of many of these reductions has already started, resulting in savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars in the 2009-2010 budget year.  These partially implemented reductions will now be fully incorporated into the District’s budget for the 2010-2011, resulting in the full $10.8 million annual savings.  

These reductions range from increasing class sizes in grades 1-3 and ninth grade English and math, to a reduction in administrative/management staffing at the district level, to reducing equipment and supply budgets to some district departments, and reflect the Board’s commitment to maintaining the jobs of all current Clovis Unified employees and protecting the delivery of high quality educational programs to all CUSD students.

The Board must now identify an additional $9 million in reductions to balance the 2010-2011 budget before June 30, and will spend the next several months collecting additional information from the Administration and community before making their decisions.  To view the list of suggested budget reductions now under consideration by the Board, click here.  To share your thoughts on any of the reductions now under consideration, please submit the form below.

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