California School Boards Association warns of consequences of state revenue shortfall and trigger cuts
West Sacramento, CA—The California School Boards Association is disappointed but not at all surprised by the LAO report’s fiscal findings that state revenues have come in well short of the figures used to pass the 2011-12 state budget. The Legislature and the Governor predicated the budget on rosy revenue projections that were highly unlikely to come true.
While the revenue shortfall was predictable – so are the consequences to schools and students. The potential triggered mid-year cuts resulting from the shortfall will create the exact nightmare scenario for K-12 school budgets that locally elected school leaders and others have warned state leaders and the public about since the budget passed in late June.
Since late June, school districts have been hamstrung by AB 114’s restrictions on their ability to plan ahead to balance their local budgets. The legislation took away the ability to adequately prepare for mid-year cuts. It’s now incumbent on the Legislature and Governor to give districts the emergency authority necessary to deal with them (e.g., to unilaterally lay off or furlough teachers).
“The cuts we’ve been forced to make in the last several years to vital school programs and services in virtually every California district have been devastating,” said CSBA President Martha Fluor. “It’s become nearly impossible to continue providing the high-quality education our students need today and on which our future depends. Making even more cuts just a few months from now is unthinkable. We implore state lawmakers to find a way to avoid mid-year cuts and to provide sufficient revenues to support our students and ensure their success in school and in life.”
For more information, contact Susan Swigart at sswigart@csba.org or 916-296-5873.