(For the latest news and notes about Irvine Unified, visit the IUSD NewsFlash.)
Governor's latest budget plan relies on a tax initiative
Over the last few years, IUSD has grown accustomed to operating in an environment of fiscal uncertainty, as state lawmakers have often deferred decisions and provided little in the way of concrete information while grappling with California’s budget crisis.
It now appears that uncertainty will continue. In January 2012, Gov. Jerry Brown released his initial budget proposal for the 2012-13 fiscal year, and it seems to have generated more questions than answers.
The key takeaway is that the spending plan, revealed Jan. 5, is heavily reliant on a November ballot initiative that would temporarily raise taxes for high-income earners and increase the sales tax by a half-cent through 2016. If the measure passes, funding for schools would remain flat, according to the governor’s proposal. If the initiative is rejected by voters, K-12 education could be slashed by an additional $4.8 billion.
Either way, school districts are required to submit their budgets by the end of June, and some staffing decisions must be made sooner than that. John Fogarty, IUSD’s assistant superintendent of business services, said Irvine will work to have contingencies in place should the November ballot initiative fail.
Keep in mind that Gov. Brown’s proposal is merely a starting point for budget discussions that could last for months. The next fiscal milestone at the state level is May, when Brown is expected to release a revised spending plan based on the latest economic data.
Meanwhile, representatives from IUSD and other districts are closely scrutinizing details of the governor’s proposal for their own budget deliberations. Education officials hope to learn more at an upcoming budget workshop hosted by experts from School Services of California.
The IUSD Board of Education voted unanimously on June 21 to adopt a budget for 2011-12, and, in the same motion, directed staff to forward all appropriate documents to the Orange County Department of Education.
The final spending plan outlines $212.2 million worth of expenditures – both restricted and unrestricted – against $199.7 million worth of total revenue for the fiscal year that begins July 1. The difference will be offset by onetime carryover funds, said Lisa Howell, assistant superintendent of Business Services.
California’s budget crisis has forced IUSD to reduce spending by approximately $38 million over the last two years, and although Governor Jerry Brown’s most recent spending proposal calls for flat funding for K-12 schools, it was based on the optimistic assumption that voters would approve a package of revenue-generating tax extensions. That scenario appears to be fading, and districts have been advised to budget conservatively while preparing for the possibility of midyear cuts.
Though IUSD projects a balanced budget through 2011-12, multimillion-dollar shortfalls are anticipated in subsequent years unless the state budget picture improves. That means the district will likely have to make additional budget adjustments for 2012-13 and beyond.
Additional resources
Questions and answers. Have a specific budget question? Click on this link to access some frequently asked questions and answers about the state crisis and its impact on our district.
Basic Aid. Click on this link to access some questions and answers about IUSD's move into the "Basic Aid" funding model.
Categorical Flexibility. "Categorical funding" refers to state dollars that are tied to specific programs. The state recently granted a limited amount of categorical flexibility, meaning some of these dollars can be spent on other high-priority needs. For more information, click on the link above.
More budget information. Click on this link to access IUSD's Business Services page, which includes financial documents, the most recent adopted budget, information on facilities and more.
How to advocate for schools
Write a letter to the Governor, or contact your local Assembly member or Senator, urging the protection of education funding. For a list of Irvine's state and federal legislative representatives, click here.
Write a letter to the editor of your favorite newspaper opposing cuts to education.
Irvine World News:
bmartinez@ocregister.com. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity, and those of less than 200 words will be given preference. All letters should include your name, neighborhood and a phone number, which will not be published.
Orange County Register: letters@ocregister.com or P.O. Box 11626, Santa Ana, CA 92711-1626. Letters will be edited for length, grammar and clarity, and those of about 200 words will be given preference. All letters must include a name and telephone number, which will not be published.
Los Angeles Times: ocletters@latimes.com or 202 W. 1st Street Los Angeles, CA 90012. Please do not send group letters or attachments.
