Hearing on PUSD Budget: $1.6 Million Deficit

Piedmont's Board of Education is expected to approve a $30.4 million school district budget for 2012-2013 following a public hearing at its Wednesday meeting. The proposed budget has a $1.6 million shortfall that will be met from district reserves.

Highlights, according to the Piedmont Unified School District staff report:

• The district's reserve fund meets state requirements for 2012-2013 if there are no mid-year "trigger cuts" in state funding, and will still have a positive fund balance even if cuts take place. For the two following years, though, reserves fall below the required level unless state funding increases.

• If the State of California makes substantial cuts to future school funding — dependent in part on the outcome of school funding measures on the November 2012 general election ballot — PUSD will be looking at necessary cuts of $3.5 million for the 2013-2014 academic year. That likely means layoffs of teachers and other district staff.

• The school parcel tax (Measure B) remains at its current level, projected to bring in about $8.9 million for 2012-2013. The emergency parcel tax (Measure E) has expired.

• The proposed 2012-2013 budget includes expected revenues of $200,000 from the Piedmont Education Foundation for student support services and elective programs for grades 6-12; Parent Club contributions of $1.55 million, up $100 per student over past years; and a one-time "buyback" of two teacher furlough days (unpaid, non-working days instituted as a cost-cutting measure) by the PEF and Parent Club organizations.

• Pay for teachers and non-certificated staff will not include any cost of living increase, although teachers remain eligible for salary increases based on length of employment and additional education.

• Enrollment is expected to increase by 40 students in 2012-2013, for a total district enrollment of 2,576.

The board will meet in public session Wednesday, June 27, at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, 120 Vista Ave. The meeting will be broadcast on KCOM, channel 27, the city's government access cable TV channel, and on video via live streaming. The agenda is attached above as a PDF. The agenda and related staff reports are available on the PUSD website.

The budget picture for PUSD for the next three years looks bleak unless state funding increases. How should the district cope? What cuts would you find most acceptable? Tell us in the comments section below.