Monument-area school district to cut 15% from budget due to expected shortfall in state revenue
Because of an expected $3 billion in state revenue this year and next because of the coronavirus pandemic, there will be less funding for education -- and that means hard decisions ahead for local public school districts.
Lewis-Palmer School District 38, in the Monument area, is preparing to bite the bullet by cutting 15% of its budget -- or $7.3 million -- for the upcoming 2020-2021 school year.
"We believe we will confront these shortfalls and the resulting impacts for a few years," Superintendent K.C. Somers wrote in an email to staff last week.
Somers said D-38 is carefully monitoring its spending and expects to finish the current 2019-2020 school year with a balanced budget.
"D-38 will pursue available federal funding to help offset these cuts, but these federal dollars will not fill the expected revenue reduction," Somers wrote.
Among the options being considered by D-38 to offset its budget deficit for the upcoming school year: Draw from emergency reserves; make budget cuts in all departments; freeze salaries; reduce salaries and layoff personnel.
Somers wrote that there will be no disruption in paying D-38 employees.
In a work session last week, the district's Board of Education agreed to make initial budget cuts of $1.1 million, and board members will discuss further reductions at their next meeting on May 18.
Board President Matthew Clawson did not return a call from KRDO NewsChannel 13 seeking more details Monday.
State officials have warned school districts to expect reductions of up to 10% below current funding levels.
Some residents fear that the district may eventually ask voters for a mill levy increase to offset cutbacks in the budget.
"I don't think anyone's prepared for or can afford that," said Debbie Golab. "I'd rather take a vacation than to pay more in taxes. But I do care about helping a child get a good education."
Cathy Schaeffer, a former district teacher, said she finds the situation concerning.
"Especially if they cut things that are very important, like physical education, art and music," she said. "Those are the important things. But I don't like them cutting the teachers' salaries, either. I hope that doesn't happen."
Nick DeCarlo said people should understand the need to cut salaries, if it comes to that.
"With me personally, if you're in (teaching) for the right reasons, a pay cut shouldn't be that detrimental to what's going on in your life," he said. "Especially with everything that's going on, with people getting laid off."
