The Gilroy Unified School District has posted its budget cut recommendations for the 2012-13 school year. Items on the table include a spending freeze; adult education; elementary music and P.E.; home-to-school transportation; class size increases; implementing a freeze on column increases; reducing the work year and across-the-board salary reductions.
Here’s a recap on what’s going on:
– The district is faced with losing $471 to $841 per student in state next funding fear.Â
– The funding scenario hinges on Gov. Jerry Brown’s tax initiative, which will go before voters on the November ballot in attempts to help close a $9.2 billion deficit.
– The initiative would temporarily increase the sales tax by one-half percent, and temporarily raise the personal income tax on Californians who make more than $250,000 annually.
– If the initiative passes, GUSD will “only” lose $3.2 million in state funding. Recommended budget reductions for this scenario include implementing a spending freeze and column freeze; as well as dipping into adult education funding; implementing furlough days; and completely eliminating home-to-school transportation and elementary music and P.E.
-If the initiative doesn’t, GUSD will lose $7.2 million in state funding. For this scenario, GUSD will consider – in addition to the cuts mentioned above – implementing class size increases; more furlough days; reducing the work year and across-the-board salary reductions.
The next regular School Board meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday at GUSD district offices, located at 7810 Arroyo Circle in Gilroy. Click here to view the agenda. Â
Do you have ideas for how the district can save money? Click here to send GUSD your budget input for the 2012-13 school year. GUSD has created an online forum for the community to provide and submit suggestions.
