State budget doesn't look good for districts
Note: The public can listen to the state Board of Education discuss the 2008-09 budget in a 3 p.m. special meeting today.
The N.C. Department of Public Instruction notified district finance officers across the state Monday that they could face a shortfall in funds provided for diesel fuel. Below, the text of that message:
"The House and Senate Education Appropriation Committee distributed a version of the Conference Budget this afternoon. Unfortunately, public schools received less funding in the Conference Budget than was included for public schools in the House or the Senate passed Budgets. The Conference Budget is $33.9 million less than the Budget passed by the House for public schools (that is more concerning since the Conference funding target was $14 million more than the House Education Budget). The Conference Budget is $10.2 million less than the Budget passed by the Senate for public schools (the Senate Budget for Education was $20+ million higher than the Conference funding target)Increased funding for bus fuel was established at $30 million ($26 million once you take into account the $4 million transportation ADM adjustment). With a possible short fall of $56 million (if diesel fuel is around $4.08 per gallon next year), this additional $26 million will leave the fuel budget short around $30 million. ABC Bonus funding was set at the House level ($70 million) which leaves this funded short of our projected needs by $37 million. Combining this with other unfunded items (and reductions to the reserves), we do not believe that reversions will be able to cover the budget shortages.
With this large of a budget hole, we will need to hold back some of the Initial Allotments. If we set the reduction at $50 million, this would convert to $33.86 per ADM (where the smallest school district would need to return $19,437 and the largest school district would need to return $4,726,304). We will keep you posted as to what we hear; but, if you have concerns, please contact your legislators.
Please note that the Conference Budget does adjust the Continuation Budget for At-Risk ($13.5 million) which means that your Planning Allotment for At-Risk Student Services/Alternative Schools is overstated."
By the way, a Maryland school district (headed by former GCS superintendent Jerry Weast) is feeling the pain at the pump and may require more students walk to school.
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