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Please refer to the side-bar menu for budget related topics. See below for budget updates.
Budget UpdatesDecember 8, 2011: - At this time, the state's budget "trigger" could affect our district with a possible take back of $380,000 in addition to the $1.2 million being returned to the state. Although SUSD is a "basic aid" or "community funded" district (we receive a majority of our funding from local property taxes), our district could still be affected.
- We are currently engaged in the polling process to determine if there is community support for a parcel tax for our K-8 school district. We expect to receive and discuss the results in January.
- Our current school year expenditures/revenue are fairly close to projections.
- The district's Budget Advisory Committee held their first meeting on November 9. The committee's charter is to form and make budget recommendations to the SUSD Board of Trustees. At the first meeting committee members were presented an overview of the the budget development timeline, enrollment projections, staffing/layoff process, Basic Aid funding model, first interim budget report, and additional information needed as the committee moves forward in the recommendation process. The committee will meet on a monthly basis through the remainder of the school year. The final 2012-2013 budget must be approved by the Board of Trustees and then submitted to the county by the end of June.
Click HERE for the Budget Advisory Committee roster.
Click HERE to download the Superintendent's December message in its entirety.
November 16, 2011: At the November 15, 2011 board meeting, the Tentative Agreements between the Saratoga Union School District, and the Saratoga Teachers' Association and the Saratoga Classified Association were ratified. This ratification represents an agreement to have two furlough days for certificated (teachers) and classified employees during the current school year... READ MORE
November 9, 2011: Furlough days have been tentatively agreed to by the Saratoga Union School District, the Saratoga Teachers' Association and the Saratoga Classified Association. Furlough days are unpaid, non-work days for district certificated (teaching) and classified staff... READ MORE.
November 1, 2011: Superintendent Weiss is seeking parents to serve on the district's Budget Advisory Committee for the 2011-2012 school year. Two parent representatives positions are available... READ MORE.
October 26, 2011  |
Budget Update from Superintendent Lane WeissOctober 24, 2011
How is our district budget doing?
We are on target with our projections of revenue and expenses for the 2011-2012 school year.
Have there been changes this school year, compared to the previous school year, due to budget cuts?
- There is one less counselor at Redwood Middle School.
- The District Math Coach position has been eliminated.
- Classroom aides for kindergarten have been eliminated.
- Administrators, classified management, and confidential employees (district office staff) are taking three furlough days. The net result is a reduction of salary, as furlough days are days in which employees do not work.
- The Assistant Superintendent position was redesignated to a Director of Educational Services position. The net result is reduced cost since a director position works five fewer days annually (per contract), and the pay scale is different than the Assistant Superintendent position.
- Employees increased their contributions towards health and welfare benefit premiums.
What are some of the budget challenges the district is facing?
- The state’s “fair share” Basic Aid Take Back is approximately $1.2 million. As a Basic Aid district (primarily funded by local property taxes) this means that SUSD will lose $1.2 million to the state.
- Property tax revenue increases are projected to increase only slightly.
- The economic recovery is projected to be a very long, slow, and gradual process. However, expenditures continue to increase at a normal or accelerated pace.
- We are using one time funds from the federal government this year to fund non- administrative positions ($378,000).
- The state's economic challenges and uncertainty make for unpredictable circumstances -- there is “trigger language” in the state budget law which could lead to mid-year cuts for California’s public schools.
- We are projected to use a portion of our budget reserve to cover our estimated $672,000 budget shortfall.
What is the budget good news?
Our class sizes remain at a consistent level with past years thanks to the Saratoga Education Foundation, our PTA’s, our booster groups, and strong parent support. Our class sizes are among the lowest in the state. The vast majority of our educational programs are intact.
We will continue to need to work and plan for budget uncertainty, change, and challenges. Revenue Sources for 2011-2012 Expenditures for 2011-2012 DOWNLOAD PDF |
Past Budget Updates (downloads):- December Message from the Superintendent, December 8, 2011
- Furlough Days Ratified for the 2011-2012 School Year, November 16, 2011
- Budget Advisory Committee 2011-2012 Membership Roster, November 10, 2011
- Tentative Furlough Days for 2011-2012 School Year, November 9, 2011
- School Funding Levels Graph, October 26, 2011
- Budget Update, October 24, 2011
- End of Year Update, June 16, 2011
- SUSD Budget Update, April 25, 2011(topics: projected class sizes, budget deadline dates)
- SUSD Budget Update, April 5, 2011 (budget and staffing timeline, layoff notice questions)
- SUSD Budget Update, March 30, 2011(projected revenue/expenses/reserve and funding sources)
- SUSD Budget Update, February 28, 2011(state legislature reps, February news)
- SUSD Budget Update, February 21, 2011(proposed special election, budget challenges)
- SUSD Budget Update, January 24, 2011(budget planning process overview)
- SUSD Budget Update, January 18, 2011 (when expenses exceed revenue)
- SUSD Budget Update, January 10, 2011(numbers at a glance)
- SUSD Budget and Staffing Update, August 12, 2010 (start of school year update)
- Updates from 2010 and earlier
Additional budget-related information:
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