Thoughts about SPS' revenue, budget and the levy
District CFO Steve Chodes and board finance committee members Dr. Tom Prater and Jean Twitty held a conference call with local media outlets on Tuesday, Feb. 16 to discuss district revenue projections, the budget process for the upcoming year and the outlook for SPS’ funding picture.
Naturally, the question of a possible increase to the district’s operating levy was raised. Sensitive to the difficult economic times, Dr. Prater reiterated that the district has no plans to ask voters to support a levy increase this year in the face of difficult economic times. SPS will be looking at cuts to the 2010-2011 budget in the face of decreases to the usual revenue SPS receives from the state, whether through sales taxes, the foundation formula or categorical items such as transportation.
The possibility of a levy in 2011 or beyond was mentioned on the call. However, it was mentioned in light of the state’s budget situation in 2011-2012, when stimulus money currently being used to prop up the state’s budget shortfalls expires. This could drastically impact district revenues at the state level. We hope that the economy turns around by that point. However, if the state budget situation is still as dire, we will need to have a community-wide conversation about the operating levy. I know this community places a high priority on keeping good teachers in the classroom, keeping class sizes manageable and preparing our students for success in college and the workplace. That part was left out of the newspaper’s story.
Dr. Prater also made an important call to action during the discussion of the levy and state funding, encouraging parents and all voters concerned about education to contact their legislator and ask that they make every effort possible to preserve education funding (that statement comes at the 28:14 mark of the call).
Listen to the conference call in its entirety.
Naturally, the question of a possible increase to the district’s operating levy was raised. Sensitive to the difficult economic times, Dr. Prater reiterated that the district has no plans to ask voters to support a levy increase this year in the face of difficult economic times. SPS will be looking at cuts to the 2010-2011 budget in the face of decreases to the usual revenue SPS receives from the state, whether through sales taxes, the foundation formula or categorical items such as transportation.
The possibility of a levy in 2011 or beyond was mentioned on the call. However, it was mentioned in light of the state’s budget situation in 2011-2012, when stimulus money currently being used to prop up the state’s budget shortfalls expires. This could drastically impact district revenues at the state level. We hope that the economy turns around by that point. However, if the state budget situation is still as dire, we will need to have a community-wide conversation about the operating levy. I know this community places a high priority on keeping good teachers in the classroom, keeping class sizes manageable and preparing our students for success in college and the workplace. That part was left out of the newspaper’s story.
Dr. Prater also made an important call to action during the discussion of the levy and state funding, encouraging parents and all voters concerned about education to contact their legislator and ask that they make every effort possible to preserve education funding (that statement comes at the 28:14 mark of the call).
Listen to the conference call in its entirety.
posted by Norm at
3:13 PM
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