BUDGET MONITOR NAMED RED INK FORECAST FOR SCHOOLS.Byline: Karen Maeshiro Staff Writer NORTH EDWARDS - Kern Kern, river, 155 mi (249 km) long, rising in the S Sierra Nevada Mts., E Calif., and flowing south, then southwest to a reservoir in the extreme southern part of the San Joaquin valley. The river has Isabella Dam as its chief facility. County officials have appointed a fiscal adviser for the Muroc Joint Unified School District A unified school district is a school district which includes both primary school (kindergarten through middle school or junior high) and high school (grades 9-12). In Illinois, these districts are called unit school districts. , which is projecting a $2.2 million deficit by June 2002. The district expected to lose $548,000 during the fiscal year that ended Saturday, but that was only after it transferred $1 million from a special reserve to the general fund to make the district's June payroll. The district now has to find ways to make further cuts, which could mean layoffs, although staff reductions would be the last resort, Superintendent Bertha ber·tha n. A wide deep collar, often of lace, that covers the shoulders of a dress. [French berthe, after Bertha (died 783), Carolingian queen as the wife of Pepin the Short.] Boullion said. ``We are working with the unions to not do that. If we are unable to make agreements with the organizations, it's possible people might lose their jobs within next year,'' Boullion said. The appointment of fiscal adviser Robert Harte, Kern County superintendent of schools regional director in district advisory services advisory services advisory services provided to the public, in their capacity as owners and managers of animals, are an important part of veterinary science. They may be provided by government bureaux, by commercial companies who deal in pharmaceuticals or animals or animal , was made under the provisions of state legislation passed in 1991 that was prompted by the bankruptcy bankruptcy, in law, settlement of the liabilities of a person or organization wholly or partially unable to meet financial obligations. The purposes are to distribute, through a court-appointed receiver, the bankrupt's assets equitably among creditors and, in most of a school district in Northern California Northern California, sometimes referred to as NorCal, is the northern portion of the U.S. state of California. The region contains the San Francisco Bay Area, the state capital, Sacramento; as well as the substantial natural beauty of the redwood forests, the northern . ``I will assist the district in making the necessary reductions and corrections and bring their budget into alignment. I can help present options and develop projections for what different options might produce,'' Harte said. The board at last week's meeting adopted a 2001-02 operating budget Noun 1. operating budget - a budget for current expenses as distinct from financial transactions or permanent improvements budget items, operating cost, operating expense, overhead - the expense of maintaining property (e.g. of $22.9 million, up 2.8 percent from the previous year. The district is projecting $20.6 million in revenues, down 0.2 percent from the prior year. The district's special reserve fund has $2.9 million left after the $1 million transfer, officials said. ``At this rate, they will have used up a special reserve within the next two years. They wouldn't be able to meet their obligations. Our concern is that the deficit be reduced dramatically,'' Harte said. State law mandates a minimum reserve of $688,000, or 3 percent of the operating budget. The shortfall in the fiscal year that ended Saturday is being attributed to raises given to both teaching and nonteaching staff. Teachers got an 11 percent raise as part of a two-year pact that expires next year, Boullion said. ``It appears that there were some areas where spending exceeded the budget in personnel salaries, certificated and classified. Raises were a contributing factor,'' Harte said. Boullion, who took over as superintendent last year, said the district did not ``analyze the further ramifications ramifications npl → Auswirkungen pl of the raise. We were not watching as closely, and as superintendent, I needed to require more reports than had been given to me.'' Adding to the district's financial burden for next year are a 40 percent increase in energy costs, a 23 percent increase in health benefits, and $1.4 million less in federal impact aid. Impact aid is money the federal government pay schools districts that contain federal land - which creates no tax - or a large concentration of children whose parents are military or civilians working for the federal government. Four of Muroc's seven schools are on Edwards Air Force Base Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. . The 2,400-student district already has made cuts to get next year's deficit down to $2.2 million. A hiring freeze Noun 1. hiring freeze - a freeze on hiring freeze - fixing (of prices or wages etc) at a particular level; "a freeze on hiring" is in effect, and positions that are vacant will remain so or be filled with existing staff. That includes five teaching positions, three nonteaching positions, two administrative slots, and two nonteaching management posts, Harte said. Discretionary expenses at the schools and in maintenance and operations and administration have been slashed slash v. slashed, slash·ing, slash·es v.tr. 1. To cut or form by cutting with forceful sweeping strokes: slash a path through the underbrush. 2. by half, about $100,000, Harte said. The 2001-02 budget now goes before Kern County officials to be approved, which Harte said was ``remotely possible.'' If it is not approved, the district has until Sept. 8 to submit a revised plan. ``By Sept. 8, we need to have another budget. It needs to be in the black, or in the red not too much and not too long. If it's not approved, then the state will give us a negative certification. Then we will be watched all year,'' Boullion said. ``If we can't, in another year or so, turn us around, the state could take us over and tell us what we will do,'' Boullion said. A major concern for Boullion is to maintain the district's quality educational program. The schools in the Muroc district have scored high in the state's Academic Performance Index ranking, and three of the district's schools have received the California Distinguished School award in the past two years. ``One day we're hearing about distinguished schools, next we're hearing about budget. It's a roller coaster What a bad CD-R disc is often called. See CD-R and underrun. ,'' Boullion said. |
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