In preparation for a $3.5 million budgetary shortfall, the Lake Washington School District has been working on potential budget adjustments for the 2006-07 school year since February.
A complete proposed budget was presented at the June 26 school board meeting. The board must formally adopt a budget in August; however, it can still make changes to this plan.
The operating budget plan spares the classrooms and schools as much as possible. It involves budget reductions, some fee increases and charging some expenses to different accounts. Reductions are primarily to central office department budgets.
To pay for expected increases in expenses, the district had to find more than $3.5 million, by either decreasing expenses or increasing revenues. Either approach will work to balance a budget. New unavoidable cost increases have also been added so that further cuts do not have to be made during the year.
Reductions
Bus routes: This $130,000 reduction will be achieved through consolidation of bus routes by increasing the ridership percentage on bus routes particularly at the elementary and junior high level. Increased ridership at the high school level will also be reviewed for routing efficiencies.
Surplus staff: At the secondary level, excess staffing can be reduced through attrition in certain subject areas.
Central office departments: These reductions would result in about a 10 percent cut overall in central office budgets, or $674,000.
New revenues
Athletic participation fees: Under this proposal, the junior high athletics participation fee will rise by $10 and senior high by $25, for an approximate increase in revenues of $81,000. These increases will bring fees more in line with other districts in the area.
Choice school shuttle fee: Under this proposal, students who take a choice school shuttle would pay a fee of $300 per year.
Community use fees: Community use activities fees will increase to pay for the costs associated with their use. This change would result a total increase in revenues of about $115,000.
For more information, contact Kathryn Reith, the district's public information officer at kreith@lwsd.org.
The full budget and explanations are available on the district Web site: www.lwsd.org.[[In-content Ad]]
