Published Tuesday, April 1, 2003
already in place
Herald Staff Writer
Brookfield school officials don't have much to worry about this year. It's next year that has them biting their nails.
The school district lost $73,318 of a $5.1 million state allocation last month when Ohio Gov. Bob Taft slashed $90.6 million in education funding.
In a letter to school leaders, the governor explained that state aid cuts were a "last resort," to fix Ohio's deficit of $720 million by the end of the fiscal year on June 30.
School districts saw 2.5 percent in cuts or $51.52 per student, whichever was lower.
"The thing that's unfortunate for us is at this point in the year our orders have already been placed. We've already been using the textbooks," said Brookfield Treasurer Michele Orahood.
Brookfield has about three months to decrease its expenditures, though there's really no way of generating any income this late in the school year. About 60 percent of Brookfield's budget is funded by government sources and local taxes pay for the rest. A mill of propety tax generates $134,000 for the district.
Ultimately the reduction in state funds affects programs that are already in place. Report card information that grades Ohio schools will be coming out soon. The report cards measure the standards and benchmarks for student achievements, which Brookfield has improved each year, now with a score of 18 of 22 points.
But there's no telling what may happen next year, when the board is forced to skim and trim programs from the curriculum. Since everything for this school year is already in effect, there is no way to cut items.
"I don't anticipate a deficit for this school year, but the decline in funding will have an impact on the (2003-04) school year," Mrs. Orahood said.
Maintenance and repair items are going to be the biggest push between now and the end of the school year. Summer supply orders are already under way in preparation for the upcoming school year. Cleaning supplies are needed for June and repairs must be made before classes resume in the fall.
Other essential costs for the district include rising insurance premiums and transportation. About 90 percent of Brookfield students ride a bus to school. For each of the last two years, the district bought a new bus at a cost of about $60,000 each. The state reimburses the district about $26,000 per bus, Mrs. Orahood said.
The school board has yet to receive projected figures for next year's budget, which is based on enrollment. In the last two years, the district's enrollment has declined, Mrs. Orahood said. "Kindergarten registration gives you an idea of where you'll be in the future," she said, adding that past kindergarten registration brought in 85 to 100 students.
Because of the unanticipated reduction in funding, school directors will have to rely on tax revenue. Levies will most likely be placed on the ballot every few years, Mrs. Orahood predicted.
The only way to keep pace with inflation is with new levies, she said. The last school levy approved by Brookfield voters was in 1995.