2011/2012 Budget

It is expected that the school district will face a severe budget shortfall for the 2011/2012 school year. Without federal stimulus dollars to artificially inflate state revenues, the Commonwealth will be forced to reduce its expenditures for the 2011/2012 fiscal year. Unfortunately, the majority of revenue (over 70%) received by the Susquehanna Community School District comes from the state. A decrease in state revenue will result in a required reduction in expenditures by the school district. To achieve a reduction in expenditures, the school district will have to reduce optional programs and only purchase the most essential supplies and curriculum materials.
The current budget deficit that is facing the district could exceed one million dollars. This is due to an expected $600,000 decrease in state revenue and a projected $500,000 increase in district costs. I urge all parents, taxpayers, and community members to call their state legislators to urge them to keep funding the Basic Education Subsidy at a minimum of the 2010/2011funding level. Failure to fund the Basic Education Subsidy at such a level will most likely result in the future reduction of educational and extracurricular programs. In addition, a long term reduction in the Basic Education Subsidy would force more of the district’s operating costs on the local taxpayers as opposed to the Commonwealth.
The Board of Education is currently analyzing many various cost cutting measures. Unfortunately, the majority of the costs the district faces are contractual obligations or fixed costs that are extremely difficult to reduce. All district stakeholders must make their voices heard in Harrisburg by letting their legislators know of the importance of keeping the current level of the Basic Education Subsidy. I also welcome your opinions and ideas for helping the school district meet the goal of crafting a fiscally conservative budget without jeopardizing the quality of the education offered to our students.