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What things do you think could or should be reduced in the Garfield Re-2 budget? What would you not want to see cut from the Re-2 budget? And what advice would you have on maintaining a positive culture and climate within the school district, despite budget/financial reductions?
Those are the three questions being put out in a survey to teachers, school staff, parents and area residents as the school district prepares a proposed 2010-2011 budget — a draft of which will be proposed at the Feb. 23, Re-2 district school board meeting in Rifle.
Experiencing budget cuts like everyone else in the national recession, the school district is also waiting to see what will happen in the current legislative session as far as public education funding. A decline in funding over the past few years is expected to continue to impact public education in the future with fewer dollars for K-12 education.
“The biggest issue for us right now is that the state is in budget crisis,” said Theresa Hamilton, director of districtwide services for Re-2.
According to Christine Hamrick finance director for Re-2, Colorado is expecting to reduce per pupil funding for the current school year (2009-2010) by 2. 31 percent. However, Garfield Re-2 has planned for this shortfall and does not need to make adjustments to its budget at this time.
But for the 2010-2011, the state is estimating an additional reduction to public education funding of 6 percent or more. If the revenue estimates continue to worsen, then the amount of money for public education in general, and Garfield Re-2, will be even less.
“Right now, we're looking at a best case and worst case scenario,” Hamilton said.
The best case scenario would require Re-2 to reduce it's budget by 10 percent, which includes the anticipated 6 percent reduction by the state, 3 percent to offset the deficit budgeted in 2009-2010 and additional 1 percent state-mandated increase in Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) for employee retirement.
The worst case scenario would required Re-2 to reduce its budget by 14 percent, including an 8 percent reduction from the state, a 2 percent reduction in student enrollment, 3 percent to offset the deficit budgeted in 2009-2010 and the 1 percent state-mandated increase in PERA.
“The bottom line is that to balance the budget for 2010-2011, Garfield Re-2 will need to reduce (the budget) between $3.5 million and $4.5 million,” Hamrick said.
The district won't know which scenario it will be until the end of the legislative session — around the end of May.
To decide where to make those cuts, Re-2 is taking input from the surveys to determine what should be cut and what should be kept.
“Everything is on the table,” Hamilton said. “We've had a conversation with each building, classrooms and teachers as to what they absolutely want to keep, what areas should be evaluated for reduction and what we need to cut in the budget.”
Re-2's general fund budget last year was $39.2 million.
Each and every comment will be tabulated and used in deciding the district's budget using comments regarding issues such as class sizes, staffing, extra curricular programs, solar energy and the use of paper and electronics.
“We looking for input from community members about what their values are,” Hamilton said. “We want to hear what people's thoughts are — what they really value and areas we should consider for cost savings. We're taking every idea seriously and putting it into our cost analysis.”
To take the survey, go to www.garfieldre2.org and click on the “Budget Information” tab on the left hand side. Answer the three questions and hit the “send” button.
Those are the three questions being put out in a survey to teachers, school staff, parents and area residents as the school district prepares a proposed 2010-2011 budget — a draft of which will be proposed at the Feb. 23, Re-2 district school board meeting in Rifle.
Experiencing budget cuts like everyone else in the national recession, the school district is also waiting to see what will happen in the current legislative session as far as public education funding. A decline in funding over the past few years is expected to continue to impact public education in the future with fewer dollars for K-12 education.
“The biggest issue for us right now is that the state is in budget crisis,” said Theresa Hamilton, director of districtwide services for Re-2.
According to Christine Hamrick finance director for Re-2, Colorado is expecting to reduce per pupil funding for the current school year (2009-2010) by 2. 31 percent. However, Garfield Re-2 has planned for this shortfall and does not need to make adjustments to its budget at this time.
But for the 2010-2011, the state is estimating an additional reduction to public education funding of 6 percent or more. If the revenue estimates continue to worsen, then the amount of money for public education in general, and Garfield Re-2, will be even less.
“Right now, we're looking at a best case and worst case scenario,” Hamilton said.
The best case scenario would require Re-2 to reduce it's budget by 10 percent, which includes the anticipated 6 percent reduction by the state, 3 percent to offset the deficit budgeted in 2009-2010 and additional 1 percent state-mandated increase in Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) for employee retirement.
The worst case scenario would required Re-2 to reduce its budget by 14 percent, including an 8 percent reduction from the state, a 2 percent reduction in student enrollment, 3 percent to offset the deficit budgeted in 2009-2010 and the 1 percent state-mandated increase in PERA.
“The bottom line is that to balance the budget for 2010-2011, Garfield Re-2 will need to reduce (the budget) between $3.5 million and $4.5 million,” Hamrick said.
The district won't know which scenario it will be until the end of the legislative session — around the end of May.
To decide where to make those cuts, Re-2 is taking input from the surveys to determine what should be cut and what should be kept.
“Everything is on the table,” Hamilton said. “We've had a conversation with each building, classrooms and teachers as to what they absolutely want to keep, what areas should be evaluated for reduction and what we need to cut in the budget.”
Re-2's general fund budget last year was $39.2 million.
Each and every comment will be tabulated and used in deciding the district's budget using comments regarding issues such as class sizes, staffing, extra curricular programs, solar energy and the use of paper and electronics.
“We looking for input from community members about what their values are,” Hamilton said. “We want to hear what people's thoughts are — what they really value and areas we should consider for cost savings. We're taking every idea seriously and putting it into our cost analysis.”
To take the survey, go to www.garfieldre2.org and click on the “Budget Information” tab on the left hand side. Answer the three questions and hit the “send” button.
