South Kitsap School Board to Hold Final Hearing on 2008/09 Budget
Board will use district’s reserve fund to make up more than half
of a nearly $3 million deficit.
By Chris Henry
chenry@kitsapsun.com
The South Kitsap School District Board of Directors on Wednesday
will hold a final public hearing on its proposed $102 million
budget for the 2008/09 school year.
The board could adopt the budget the same night. Its deadline for
budget adoption is Aug. 31.
The board proposes to make up more than half – $1.7 million – of a
projected $3 million general fund deficit by using its reserve
fund. General fund appropriations are proposed at $97 million.
The remainder of the deficit will be made up through moderate cuts
spread throughout various departments and funds. No outright
layoffs are expected this year, although – with deficits projected
into the foreseeable future – a significant reduction in staff is
expected in the 2009/10 school year, according to Terri Patton,
assistant superintendent for business and support services.
The district this year will save $300,000 by not filling vacated
positions, by reducing special education staff contracts to adjust
for enrollment and reducing hours in an accounting position.
More than $300,000 will be saved by a 10 percent across the board
reduction in “non-employee-related” costs, such as paper, copying
equipment and miscellaneous supplies. The reduction is likely to be
felt in schools, which haven’t absorbed such a hit since the
district failed to pass a levy and lacked supplemental funding in
the 2000/01 school year.
“Cost shifting,” transferring expenses such as laundry,
transportation and storage, directly to departments, will save
another $134,000. But the effect will be felt by students as the
cost is passed on to them. The board has already approved an
increase in lunch prices.
As the board considers how much to ask of voters in a February
measure to replace the district’s expiring maintenance and
operations levy, they will look to replenishing the reserve fund.
The district’s goal is to maintain the fund at or above three
percent of the total budget.
The reserve fund ended last year $1 million higher than expected
due to higher than expected property tax revenue among other
factors. The district will tap the reserve fund by an additional
$720,000 above the $1 million to balance the budget for the
upcoming school year.
Copies of the proposed budget will be available at the meeting. For
information on the budget call (360) 874-7012 or e-mail
patton@skitsap.wednet.edu.