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2009-11-21

2009-11-18

2009-11-05

Agriculture

Lifestyles

Thursday, October 22, 2009 12:00 PM

Ideas needed to help board with hard financial choices

The Central Heights School Board is doing its homework.

And it’s going to take some creative effort.

The board faced the tough news the other night that district budgets will be at least — and probably more than — $400,000 out of whack just two years from now.

That’s close to 10 percent of the total spent each year, according to estimates provided by Superintendent Jim Reece. His numbers didn’t include probable cuts in state aid or increases in salaries and benefits for staff.

For a district that is facing declining enrollment — which means a decrease in state aid — and in which the tax base may shrink as well with the economy, this is bad news.

One potential solution is one no one wants to propose — a tax increase of about 3 mills. That would be the equivalent of about $34 in taxes on a home valued at about $100,000.

Board President Ron Sluder asked board members to spend some time digesting the reality of what they heard.

“We have to think about where we’re going to go,” Sluder was quoted as saying in an article in The Herald. “The bottom line is, we’re going to have to cut about $200,000 next year. Let’s let that settle in.”

Of course, the issue is bigger than just the board.

Residents and patrons of the district also need to spend some time thinking about options — preferably ones that won’t back the district up in time and will allow it to continue to offer strong academic programs.

This will be a time for district patrons to come together to support their children and protect the district’s future.

Get involved. Provide ideas for cost-cutting. Support the school — financially or otherwise. And support the board when it makes the tough decisions.

Someone has to do it.

— Gordon Billingsley

Herald content director

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Ideas needed to help board with hard financial choices

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article | Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.

E-mail this story to a friend | Print this article |
Enjoy the convenience of home delivery of The Ottawa Herald.