Budget Report: More cost cutting ahead?
It's possible that more cost cutting will be necessary said Fiscal Services Director Bryan Richards in presenting a budget update to the MDUSD Board of Education at its meeting Tuesday, May 12. He explained, "While it's great news that the District will receive nearly $20 million in federal stimulus money, it is all one-time money and much of it is specifically allocated to Special Education and Title I (high poverty) programs. One-time funds are not a substitute for the on-going budget shortfalls resulting from the state budget crisis. We cannot use them for on-going expenses, such as salaries."
In presenting the report, Richards explained that if state revenues continue to decline, the state may have to make additional reductions in June that will exceed the amount of the federal stimulus funds the Distict receives in May. Passage of the state initiatives and the District's request for a $99 per year parcel tax (Measure D) on the May 19 special election ballot would definitely help Mt. Diablo USD. However, until the election results are tallied and the Governor presents his revised budget proposal at the end of May, Richards considers the budget for 2009-10 to be still "in development."
Without more details, the Board moved forward in the process begun in March to inform teachers and other certificated employees that they would be laid off at the end of the fiscal year. It voted to issue final layoff notices by the legally mandated May 15 deadline to more than 400 teachers, 10 administrators, and 2 psychologists.