08-12-2002 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Of note: the w<»nJing on the ballot is dictated by law. The ScluH)l District is not allowed to change the wording, even if doing so would make the ballot question easier to understand. See Appendix C for a year-hy-year view of current and proposed leiy amounts per pupil. 10. What doas •tatutory oparating dabt maan? Haw did tha Sehaal District gat inta statutary aparating dabt? "Statutory' Operating Debt” is reached when a school district's fund balance is a negative amount that exceeds of its operating expenditures. Statutory Operating Debt requires annual debt reductions t«» bring the accumulated debt to zero. The Westonka School District went into statutttry operating debt in 1‘W.S, the year after a ItK'al levy request lost by 11 votes. The Fall 1994 levy referendum loss presented difficult choices for the SchiHil Board. The Board believed that taking $1 millton of cuts would essentially gut the educational program, resulting in high levels of open enrollment and a loss of talented teachers to other .sch(K)l d"'trict.s. The Board knew that it would take years to rebuild after se\ere cuts to programs. Cuts were, therefore, made in areas that were considered to be the least harmful to the educational program. Believing it would be easier to recover from debt than to lose students to open enrollment, the Board chose to preserve as much of the educational program as possible, and went back to voters w ith another levy request in 1995 (which passed by a wide margin). The ScluH)l Board has been on a debt reduction plan for the past several years. In 1999. the Board adopted financial principles, one of w hich requires yearly balanced budgets. The SchiK)l District is committed to paying off all debt and ct)ntinuing to work within balanced annual budgets, even though doing so requires budget cuts. Tlie School District has not had a financial reserve (undesignated fund balance) since 1989. 11. This Isvy rsqiMst dsscribss chIs for 2003*2004. Why woro cuts also mado for noxi school year, 2002* 2003? More than $7(X).(KK) in cuts were required for 2002- 2(K).^ because the November 2(K)I operating levy failed. The cuts were needed to maintain a balanced budget for 2(K)2-200.^. (See Appendix El 13*2004 a12. Is tho list of cuts for 2 throat or a reality? Stage One cuts (S.^(M).(XK)) are a reality and w ill take place by July 2(K).^. regardless of the levy vote. Stage TwDcuts ($S(X).()00) w ill take place if the levy fails. The Sch<H)l Board realizes that determining budget cuts can be a subjective call. The Board and ScIum>1 District administration are extremely ctmscious about being as straightforward as p«>ssiblc about the proposed cuts. The ScluH)l District solicited and received broad c«>mmunity input into the analysis of expenses and reci>mmendati(»ns for proposed budget cuts. See Appendix O for StOf(e One cuts for 200.1-2004. See Appendix E for Staye l\u> cuts for 200J-2004. 13. Why does tho district have to cut toachors and incroaso class siso? Can’t tho cuts como out of administration and other areas? Cuts are being taken in virtually every program area, including administration. No department or program is immune from budget cuts. For 2(X)2-2(X)3. administrative reductit>ns of approximately $75.(XX) have already been made. (.See Appendix El Another SlOH.tXX) in administrative cuts will be made for 2fX).3-2<X)4, regardless of the outcome of the levy vote. StaKr One cuts and fee increases </^age share of total reduction amount): Classr<'<mi lnstructi(»n 42C? Administrative and Support Staff Supplies and Materials 14'-f Athletics and Co-curricular Activities Facilities l‘/?' Total l(X)‘rc- Questions? Please call 952.491.8443 or e-mall welisten&westonka.k12.mn.us 5