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Projections show more deficits in District 191Posted: 1/24/03 by John Gessner Projections show the Burnsville-Eagan-Savage School Districtís general-fund budget slipping back into deficit after being balanced this year by $5 million in cuts. The district is projecting it will receive $1.9 million less than the $96.9 million it will spend in 2003-04. Projections for 2004-05 show spending of $100.6 million and a revenue shortage of $4.9 million. Based on assumptions about costs, spending, enrollment, state aid and other factors, the projections are speculative, Business Manager Carter Christie told the School Board Jan. 23. ìOver all of that we have a cloud hanging, and that is the stateís financial crisis, which amounts to $4.6 billion,î Christie said. Next year, 2003-04, the district will collect an additional $3.6 million voters approved in last Novemberís levy referendum. Passage of the levy was preceded by board approval of $5 million in cuts to balance the 2002-03 budget. The cuts were preceded by voter rejection of the same levy question the previous November. ìNext year should be a pretty good year for us because we have the additional referendum dollars. ... Weíre very close to a balanced budget,î Christie said. District administrators are fine-tuning a ìreferendum accountability planî with promised improvements stemming from the additional revenue. Hearings on elements of the plan, which the district used in last yearís levy campaign, were held this month. ìThe overriding message from the financial projection is that, barring a reduction in funding for 2004 and with careful attention to cost increases, we will be able to support the ëenhancedí educational program that was promised in the referendum accountability plan,î Christie wrote in a report to the board. ìHowever, favorable legislative action will be needed if financial and programmatic stability is be sustained thereafter.î © Thisweek Newspapers |
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