An estimated $60 million shortfall creates tough decisions
By B.C. Manion
All of the easy ways to cut Pasco County Schools’ budget have already been done as the district grappled with steep funding shortfalls in recent years, said Joanne Hurley, chairwoman of the school board.
This year, as the district faces potential cuts of $60 million, board members have few options, Hurley said. In essence, as they make their cuts they must decide: “What is the least-worst?” Hurley said.
Whatever decisions they make, the chairwoman knows: “Every single thing that we do is going to be painful to someone.”
The $60 million shortfall is a ballpark figure, Hurley said.
It could grow or decrease, according to actions taken in Tallahassee by Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Legislature.
Pasco County Commissioners also could affect how much money the district has available to repay bonds for building 11 schools during recent years to accommodate growth.
County commissioners are considering cuts that would reduce school impact fees by 50 percent or more. If that happens, the district stands to lose about $4.5 million in revenues, said Summer Romagnoli, school district spokeswoman.
Capital funds don’t affect the funding for day-to-day operations directly, but if the district falls short of capital funds, it must dip into its operating budget to repay the bonds, Romagnoli said.
Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri favors cutting school impact fees in half, an issue the county commission is slated to consider at an April 19 public hearing.
The board wants to reduce all impact fees, effective March 1, 2011 to Jan. 31, 2012, Mulieri said in an email, in an effort to stimulate job creation. Pasco’s unemployment stands at more than 12 percent, she noted.
Mulieri also noted that impact fees cannot be used for salaries or the daily running of schools.
While the county grapples with the challenge of stimulating the local economy and reducing unemployment, layoffs in the school district are a virtual certainty as the district faces a $60 million shortfall.
Eighty-six percent of the district’s operating budget goes for salaries and benefits, Romagnoli said. The other 14 percent covers things like fuel and utilities, which have costs that are beyond the district’s control.
“Our board has an enormous task in front of them,” Romagnoli said.
To help them in making their decisions, individual board members are holding town hall meetings across the county.
The meetings are intended to provide a forum where people can offer budget-cutting suggestions and express their opinions about what the district’s budget priorities should be.
They also provide an opportunity for board members to explain how the budget process works, Hurley said.
Sometimes people suggest budget cuts that cannot be accomplished because they involve state-mandated programs or are tied to state funding requirements, she said.
The town hall meetings help people develop a greater understanding regarding areas in which the board has discretion and areas in which it doesn’t, Hurley said.
Chances are, most of the suggested budget cuts will be controversial.
For instance, School Board member Steve Luikart suggested shortening the school week to four days, but Superintendent Heather Fiorentino does not favor that budget-cutting approach.
The superintendent is concerned about potential negative impacts on student achievement, Romagnoli said.
She’s also concerned that a 20 percent pay cut for bus drivers could make it harder for the district to retain and attract drivers. The district already has a shortage of drivers and the superintendent doesn’t want to make it worse, Romagnoli said.
Hurley isn’t keen on the shorter week, either.
“I think that children are better off when they are in school,” Hurley said.
Still, Hurley appreciates Luikart’s willingness to explore different ways to cut the budget.
“I applaud people for bringing forth ideas,” the school board chairwoman said.
Town Hall Meetings
Here are the meeting times and places for town hall school budget meetings:
6:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 14, hosted by Joanne Hurley, in Room 102 of Rushe Middle, 18654 Mentmore Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
6:30 p.m. on Monday, April 18, hosted by Allen Altman, in the cafeteria at Cox Elementary, 37615 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
6:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 20, hosted by Alison Crumbley, Center for the Arts at River Ridge, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey
