Schools
Will New State Budget Bring More Money to Schools?
Governor's revised budget calls for an additional $3 billion for education, but local districts remain wary.
Gov. Jerry Brown’s revised budget may lessen the financial burden for local schools, but district officials said much uncertainty remains over the prospect of state tax extensions.
The revised budget, which Brown released Monday, allocates an additional $3 billion for education, with $1.6 billion going to K-12 education and community colleges.
The added revenue, amounting to $6.6 billion over two years, comes from higher than expected cash receipts.
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“The good news is that the tax collection was greater than what had been anticipated,” said Elizabeth McManus, deputy superintendent of business services for the San Mateo Union High School District. “At the end of the day a $10 billion shortfall still exists.”
Brown is still counting on extending state tax increases to make up much of the remaining gap, but has yet to win enough Republican support in the Legislature to put the issue before voters.
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McManus said that until the fate of the tax extensions is decided, the district is betting on the much less desirable scenario of local schools having to make up 40 percent of state’s lingering deficit through brutal cutbacks.
“The question is what will be the final solution on this deficit,” she said. “I think we don’t have an answer yet because the most prudent solution is to extend the taxes.”
Based on its latest analysis, the high school district has a projected deficit of $4.3 million for next fiscal year, McManus said. The school board will be considering a final budget for next fiscal year on June 23, she added.
Steve Mak, director of fiscal services for the San Mateo-Foster City School District, said he was still analyzing the revised state budget and working on a presentation to the superintendent.
Mak referred further questions to district spokeswoman Joan Rosas, who did not return phone calls.
In March the district board approved to offset a more than $8 million budget deficit.
The district’s finances may improve slightly due to the added dollars for schools, but many unknowns remain until legislators reach a budget deal.
