The Pasadena Unified School District adopted an operating budget for the 2012-13 school year this week, and it includes $7.3 million in cuts.
However, the budget is banking on certain education tax initiatives passing on the November ballot - if those tax measures fail, the district says it will have to cut an additional $7.8 million mid-school year.
The cuts are mostly in books and supplies, which will see a $5.67 million reduction compared to 2011-12 funding. Other cuts include $2.16 million in services and other operating costs, $3.54 million in employee benefits and just over $194,000 in classified salaries.
However, certificated salaries will increase by just over $2.5 million. A budget breakdown presentation is included in the attachment section of this article.
The PUSD originally projected an $8.7 million deficit for the 2012-13 school year.
This is the fifth year that cuts have been made to the district, and decreased funding from the state is largely to blame, according to the PUSD.
The district has posted a list of more specific budget questions and answers here.
Here's the press release issued from the PUSD, which includes info on union bargaining:
With continuing uncertainties as to the amount of money the district will receive from the state this year, the Pasadena Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education on June 26 formally ratified a $174 million operating budget for the 2012-2013 year that includes $7.3 million in cuts and one-time savings. This budget hinges on the outcome of the education tax initiatives in the November election. If these measures fail, an estimated additional $7.8 million in mid-year reductions would take effect, drastically impacting staffing and programs and forcing the district to shorten the school year.
"The budget we passed highlights the importance of one or both education related initiatives passing in November," said PUSD Board President Renatta Cooper. "I shudder to think what this district might look like if the initiatives fail. I am counting on the voting public to recognize the great divide between what the public expects schools to deliver and the actual funds we receive."
It is the fifth consecutive year that PUSD has sustained cuts in funding because of the ongoing state budget crisis. Funding that the district receives from the state is at pre-2006 levels. If the Governor enacts mid-year cuts upon the failure of the ballot initiatives then funding levels for PUSD would be at pre-2004 levels. The district enters the new fiscal year already looking ahead to 2013-2014. Current budget projections for 2013-2014 show a deficit of $7.3 million even if the initiatives pass in November.
"This budget is a difficult pill to swallow for the entire PUSD family," said PUSD Superintendent Jon R. Gundry. "Although we tried to find ways to limit the impact on instruction, there is no way to keep the budget cuts away from the classroom. I thank the bargaining units that have agreed to furloughs and other sacrifices if the November initiatives fail. I hope our other bargaining units will follow suit soon."
Teamsters Local 911, representing custodians, painters, maintenance and operations, food service and warehouse workers, and the Association of Pasadena School Administrators (APSA) have agreed to furloughs should the initiatives not pass. California School Employees Association Local 434, representing office workers and instructional aides, has informed their members that they will hold firm until after the November election in negotiations with the District. PUSD has declared an impasse after failing to come to an agreement with United Teachers of Pasadena (UTP) in negotiations over health and welfare benefits for the 2011-2012 school year. The District hopes to continue negotiations with UTP and CSEA as soon as possible to achieve some certainty for their members and the district.
Superintendent Gundry added, "We will continue to closely monitor our expenses and make modifications if they become warranted."
The PUSD 2012-2013 All Funds Budget and the Budget Reduction Plan outlining the cuts and one-time savings can be viewed at pusdbudget.pasadenausd.org.
