Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for the 2007-08
fiscal year is being described by education leaders as a
”
maintenance budget
”
because there are very few changes or surprises.
Morgan Hill – Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s proposed budget for the 2007-08 fiscal year is being described by education leaders as a “maintenance budget” because there are very few changes or surprises.
Morgan Hill Unified School District Deputy Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini said Monday that in her years of school district budget experience, this is “the
most simple budget the state has put out.”
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O’Connell also described the budget as a maintenance budget.
“The governor’s budget is a fiscally sound proposal that will allow California’s schools to maintain, but not expand, programs that are working to improve student achievement,” he said.
MHUSD’s general fund budget for the 2006-07 school year is $65 million, with a total operating budget, including bond refunding and programs like adult education and food services, of more than $80 million. Tognazzini said the budget for the 2007-08 school year should be similar.
“It could be a little more, because we’ve been in a little bit of a growth mode, but it will be very close to that,” she said.
If the governor’s proposed changes to some educational funds are passed, there could be long-term effects on the district.
“There are two kind of sleight-of-hand changes that are proposed; one is a move to use some of the funding for home-to-school transportation for public transportation,” she said. “The other is to use some Proposition 98 funds to pay for CalWorks child care programs.”
O’Connell said in a press release that he, too, doesn’t agree with using public education funds for these programs.
“I am concerned about the precedent that would be set by using $269 million in Proposition 98 funds to pay for CalWORKs Child Care programs that have traditionally been federally funded,” he said. “I want to make certain that Proposition 98 funds are directed toward K-14 education as voters intended.”
Tognazzini said the 4.04 COLA, or cost of living adjustment, would allow the district to pay the annual step-and-column increases on the employee salary schedules, with approximately 2.24 remaining.
Marilyn Dubil covers education and law enforcement for The Times. Reach her at (408) 779-4106 ext. 202 or at md****@*************es.com.
