From: "Sangster, Simone"
Subject: 2010-11 Budget
Dear Colleagues:
I write to provide you with some information on the upcoming
2010-2011 school year budget. We know that the current uncertainty in education
budgets and the economy in general is hard on district staff especially staff,
such as provisional staff, whose job is more likely to be reduced. It is hard
on staff who are worried about their colleagues and the programs and services
that we offer students. Parents, too, are worried about what programs and
services will be available to their children and many are struggling with tight
budgets.
At the moment, we don’t know the exact size of our budget next
year for several reasons. We don’t know what our local revenue will be until
the current levy renewal election concludes. If this measure passes, we won’t
know how much of the authorized local levy we can collect until the legislature
settles on potential changes in the calculation of the local levy. Although we
do not know what the state’s education budget will be, we do have a preliminary
estimate of the decrease in state funding next year, which I present below.
Finally, following the inflow of ARRA or fiscal stimulus funds last year, we
expect a fall off in the amount of federal funding. Combined with expected cost
increases we anticipate facing a significant reduction in operating resources
in 2010-11 compared with 2009-2010. Cuts are almost certain for the coming
school year and will be difficult.
Impact of Governor’s Proposed Changes to School Funding on
Bellevue:
|
Program Specified |
$ in
millions |
|
Loss
of K-4 Class Size Funding |
-2.14 |
|
Loss
of I-728 – class size and teacher development |
-1.64 |
|
Loss
of 1 teacher training/ LID Day |
-0.29 |
|
Loss
of Highly Capable & Middle School Vocational |
-0.22 |
|
TOTAL: |
-4.29 |
This equates to approximately 50 teaching staff at current
salaries.
Budget Process
When the state finalizes its education budget, which will clarify how
much funding we can collect locally, we will have limited time to construct a
balanced budget. Therefore, we are beginning our budget process now.
Our budget discussions and decisions will be driven by the
district’s mission and vision and guided by school and local community input.
Our goal is to put together a budget that reflects our strategic priorities; we
do not plan to make across-the-board cuts.
We are asking for your input and the input of the school and
Bellevue community in several ways. First, we are asking for your ideas on
possible cost savings or revenue generation. Second, after we have put together
a list of potential cost savings and revenue generation options, we will be
asking for you to provide input through a survey. Third, we will be holding
community information sessions. Fourth, we will convene a Fiscal Advisory
Committee to provide recommendations to the Superintendent.
What can I do now?
After Thursday morning, you can use the budget website at www.bsd405/2010-11Budget to do the following:
· Submit ideas on possible cost
savings or revenue generation
· Learn more about the Fiscal
Advisory Committee
· Apply to be on the Fiscal
Advisory Committee (FAC)
· Learn more about the budget and
the budget process
We acknowledge that Bellevue has already made budget cuts over the
last several years and that this is hard on all of us. However, I hope that
with your input we can put together a budget that best supports students we
serve and that provides fiscal stability for the district next year and beyond.
Best,
Simone
|
|
Simone
Sangster, Ed.D. Assistant
Superintendent Financial Services and School Support Bellevue
School District No. 405 p:
425.456.4025 f:
425.456.4176 |
