
Archive Index
| October 20, 2009 |
Budget Update |
| October 2009 |
EGUSD Athletic Budget Cuts Community Meetings |
| September 15, 2009 |
Budget Update |
| August 27, 2009 |
Budget Update |
| August 27, 2009 |
2010-2011 Possible Budget Reductions |
| August 27, 2009 |
2010-2011 Athletic Budget Reduction Plan |
| August 2009 |
Budget Update |
| April 14, 2009 |
Board of Education Meeting Update |
| April 14, 2009 |
Public Hearing on Categorical Flexibility Transfers |
| March 17, 2009 |
Budget Update |
| March 3, 2009 |
Board of Education Meeting Update |
| February 25, 2009 |
Budget Update |
| February 4, 2009 |
Special Board of Education Meeting Update |
| January 2009 |
The Governor’s January Budget Proposal |
| December 2008 |
Budget Update |
| Sept. 23, 2008 |
Governor's Signed Budget |
| May 2008 |
What is the governor’s May budget revise proposal for public education? |
| May 14, 2008 |
Special Board of Education Meeting Update |
| April 1, 2008 |
Board of Education Meeting Update |
| March 4, 2008 |
Board of Education Meeting Update |
October 20, 2009 Update
At the October 20, 2009, Board of Education meeting, Associate Superintendent of Finance and School Support Richard Odegaard gave the following presentation on EGUSD's Projected Budget Reductions:
View the Budget Reduction Update presentation as a (.pdf)
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EGUSD Athletic Budget Cuts Community Meetings
The Elk Grove Unified School District held four community meetings in October to discuss possible athletic budget reductions for the 2010-2011 school year. The following Power Point was presented at those meetings:
View the Proposed Athletic Budget Reductions presentation as a (.pdf)
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2010-2011 Possible Budget Reductions
2010-2011 Proposed Budget Reductions
2010-2011 Athletic Budget Reduction Plan
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September 15, 2009 Update
At the September 15, 2009, Board of Education meeting, Associate Superintendent of Finance and School Support Richard Odegaard gave the following presentation on EGUSD’s Projected Budget Reductions:
View the Projected Budget Reductions 2010-2011 presentation as a (.pdf)
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August 27, 2009 Update
The Elk Grove Unified School District's budget committee has resumed the work of identifying $40 million in ongoing cuts for 2010-2011 school year. The reduction of $40 million is on top of $17 million in one-time and $27 million in ongoing budget cuts that the Elk Grove Unified School District had to make for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years.
The 45 member budget committee is comprised of district administrators, principals and union representatives. This year parent representatives serving on the district's finance committee also joined the budget committee. The committee is being asked to look at budget reductions through the following four lenses:
- Keep people before things
- Safety and security is a top priority
- Maintain cleanliness
- Academic programs and services
The committee was presented with a 2010-2011 budget development list of $40 million in ongoing, non-negotiated, possible reductions. Click here to see the list. The list does not include a number of items that must be negotiated with EGUSD's labor organizations.
EGUSD Superintendent Steven M. Ladd, Ed.D, who is facilitating the meetings, made it clear to the committee that the list represents a starting point in the conversation only and was not final but underscored that cuts must be made. It will be the work of the committee to refine the list with input from the staff, parents and community members.
In the case of the possible reductions to the athletic budget, an Athletic Budget Reduction Team was formed to identify $800,000 in possible reductions. The committee has looked at possible reductions through the following lenses:
- Quality of each site Athletic Department
- Title IX Equity
- Equity amongst all schools no booster funded programs
- Safety of student-athletes/coaches/spectators
- Ability to sustain varsity programs don't eliminate multiple levels of a sport
- Percentage/number of students affected by modified or eliminated sports
To see a draft list of budget cuts identified by the Athletic Budget Reduction Team, click here.
In September, Superintendent Ladd will begin visiting school sites to speak with staff members about the district budget. In addition, in October the district will hold a series of community forums to invite parents, staff and students to join the discussion, present ideas and ask questions.
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August 2009 Update
California's adopted budget will have a significant financial impact on the Elk Grove Unified School District over the coming years. Based on the most current information, EGUSD faces the need to reduce its operating expenses by approximately $40 million by the school year 2010-11, and the outlook for future years seems bleak. These reductions are on top of the millions of dollars that the district has already cut in past years.
For the 2009-2010 budget, the district used its ending-fund balance and reserve funds to keep as many people working as possible during this school year. Upon receipt of approximately $26 million in federal stimulus dollars, EGUSD included these one-time dollars in the 2009-10 budget. However, due to California's declining state revenues, even with this investment of federal one-time dollars, EGUSD still faces the need to reduce the 2010-11 budget by approximately $40 million.
In anticipation of a brewing storm, over 18 months ago, EGUSD's administration and Board of Education began to control spending as much as possible. In addition, the district continues to work collaboratively on solutions to control rising costs such as energy and health care. The district will continue to look to creative solutions to increase revenue and cut costs.
The district Budget Committee will reconvene in August to gain an understanding of the areas that have been identified for reduction in 2010-2011 and to explore any other possible ideas that have not emerged thus far. You can share your ideas an input through the Budget Watch online comment section below. We will continue to update the Budget Watch page as we have new information to share.
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April 14, 2009 Board of Education Meeting Update
The Elk Grove Unified School District held a public hearing on categorical flexibility recommendations at the April 14, 2009, Board of Education meeting. Following the public hearing the board took action, approving the recommendations to move dollars designated for categorical programs into the general fund. The action will allow the district to use both categorical and general fund dollars to close the district’s budget deficit in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.
Below you can click on a link that will take you to the list of approved categorical flexibility. To help you better understand the chart, we have also included a link to the heading definitions.
At the April 14 meeting the board also took action to approve $30.3 million in cuts for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. To see a list of the cuts, please click on the appropriate link below.
2008-2009 Budget Development - Categorical Flexibility Detail by Resource
Categorical Flexibility Chart – Heading Definitions
General Fund Reductions -
Detail by Program
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Public Hearing on Categorical Flexibility Transfers
On April 14, 2009, the Elk Grove Unified School District will hold a public hearing at the Board of Education meeting on categorical flexibility transfers for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 school years. The public hearing will be held during the 7 p.m. meeting in the Board Room of the Robert L. Trigg Education Center at 9510 Elk Grove-Florin Road, Elk Grove, CA 95624.
Following the public hearing the Board of Education will be asked to approve categorical flexibility for the Tier 3 categorical programs. The action would allow the district the option of moving these categorical dollars to the general fund to assist EGUSD in weathering this financial crisis. The action involves the following programs:
Tier 3 Categorical Programs |
Adult Education |
Peer Assistance & Review |
Gifted and Talented Education |
PE Teacher Incentive Program |
School Safety Block Grant (8-12) |
Community-Based English Tutoring Program |
Supplemental Instruction |
School Safety Competitive Grants |
Instructional Materials |
Supplemental School Counseling Program |
Deferred Maintenance |
Nat’l Board Certification Incentives |
Arts and Music Block Grant |
Reader Services for the Blind |
Class Size Reduction – 9th Grade |
Charter School Categorical Block Grant |
Pupil Retention Block Grant |
Prof. Development Block Grant Program |
CAHSEE Instructional Support and Services |
High Priority Schools Grant Program |
California School Age Families Education |
Advanced Placement Programs |
Math and Reading Professional Development |
Regional Occupational Centers & Programs |
School and Library Improvement Block Grant |
Teacher Credentialing Block Grant |
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March 17, 2009 Budget Update
On March 31, 2009, the Elk Grove Unified Board of Education will be presented with a list of budget cuts that will enable the district to submit a balanced budget for 2009-2010.
Below is a list of identified reductions. In keeping with our four lenses, we have identified as many areas as possible that we could use to make our reductions before cutting staff. The list also includes recommendations for possible reduction for the 2010-2011 school year. The 2010-2011 list includes both non-personnel and personnel reductions. The district continues to refine this list as new information becomes available.
Link to list of identified budget reductions
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March 3, 2009 Board of Education Meeting Update
Ten days have passed since Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a budget that attempts to close the state’s $41.6 billion budget gap anticipated by June 2010. The largest share of the cuts is to K-12 public education funding, which is being reduced by $8.6 billion. The state budget also increased the flexibility in how districts use categorical funding. While flexibility is helpful, it does not make up for the lack of funding for our students.
Understanding the nuances of this complex budget is not an easy task. The unknowns surrounding the federal stimulus package further complicate the budgeting process. According to school finance experts, education in California is slated to receive a promised $8.3 billion in federal dollars through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. When and how school districts will actually receive the money remains unclear. The Elk Grove Unified School District has yet to be officially informed of how much of the stimulus package it will receive. The Sacramento County Office of Education has stated that school districts should not include these anticipated federal funds in budget projections at this time.
In addition, the state’s signed budget is dependent on the passage of a number of ballot measures slated for a May 19 special election. As such, we still must await the outcome of these ballot measures to determine their impact on public education. Even with these unknowns, by law, the Elk Grove Unified School District is required to submit a balanced budget for the following year plus a budget projection for the next two years to the Sacramento County Office of Education by July 1. The county must approve the district’s budget as well as a number of interim budget reports.
Based on the best information available at the time of this writing, the district will need to make about $38 million in ongoing cuts over the next three years. In addition, the district will need to make $10 million in one-time cuts in 2008-2009. All of the 2008-2009 cuts involve things and did not result in any personnel layoffs.
Superintendent Steven M. Ladd, Ed.D. requested that the budget reduction process be viewed through the following lenses, in no particular order:
- keep people before things;
- cleanliness;
- safety and security;
- academic programs and services.
Fortunately, over the past few years, the district has been cautious with its dollars, which has resulted in a reserve that can now be used to help the district weather tough economic times. That time has come. Superintendent Ladd has worked with the Board, cabinet and staff to use the reserves to save as many educational programs for students and jobs for staff as possible for at least one more year in 2009-2010. As a result, several of the identified budget reductions, including class size reduction in kindergarten through 3rd grade, administrators, library positions and others, have been postponed to the 2010-2011 school year.
Make no mistake – in 2009-2010, the district will still have to make significant budget reductions of $4 million in one-time cuts and $12.2 million in ongoing cuts. Many millions of dollars in cuts will need to be made as well in the coming years.
Like all school districts in California, when making possible reductions in workforce, the Elk Grove Unified School District must notify certificated staff of possible layoff by March 15. To meet this statutory deadline, the district had to make decisions based on the best information at the time, understanding and accepting that the information will change over the coming weeks. Certificated staff must receive final notification by May 15. Classified staff can be noticed at any time during the year, 45-days in advance of layoff. It has been a recent practice of EGUSD to notice classified staff at the same time as certificated.
In order to meet the legally required timelines, district staff has spent hours pouring over the budget variables to understand how they will impact EGUSD’s budget. In the days since the Governor signed the budget, district staff has worked diligently to reduce the number of potential layoff notices from about 1,100 to about 300 and still build a fiscally responsive budget.
In response to the statutory March 15 deadline, the Board of Education convened during a regular meeting of the Board on March 3, 2009, and initiated the legally required steps to notify certificated personnel and classified personnel of potential layoffs for the 2009-2010 school year. Specifically, the governing board considered and adopted a resolution directing the Associate Superintendent of Human Resources to notify all certificated employees associated with the reduction and/or elimination of 85.4 FTE (full-time equivalent) certificated positions. In addition, the Board considered and adopted three resolutions directing the associate superintendent to notice all classified employees associated with a reduction in force of 190 positions.
Of these 190 classified positions, more than half are unrelated to the district’s budget reductions. They are being notified because their position is funded through grants that have expired or revenue sources that are uncertain. The district annually notices a number of these positions until their funding stream is confirmed. Once the funds are secured, offers of employment are once again extended to these individuals.
The difference in number between total notices and total positions is due to several reasons: 1) not all district employees are full-time; 2) multiple employees often share the same seniority date and/or hire date; and 3) layoff rights insure reemployment at lower classifications requiring a displacement process referred to as “bumping.” In the later case, all employees affected would require notification.
Finally, at the March 3 meeting, the Board of Education also took action on resolutions releasing temporary employees; long-term substitutes; a resolution outlining the tie-breaking criteria for employees with the same seniority start date; and, a resolution that excludes teachers with full special education credentials and mathematics credentials from consideration for reduction and/or elimination.
In the coming weeks, the budget information will be refined and notices, when possible, will be rescinded accordingly. The district has been and will continue to be creative with funding to provide Elk Grove Unified students the best educational opportunities possible.
For more information about the positions, please click on the resolutions below.
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February 25, 2009 Budget Update
On February 20, 2009, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a budget bill that seeks to address California’s looming $41-plus billion budget deficit over the next 16 months. The bill includes:
- $12.5 billion in multi-year general fund tax increases
- $14.9 billion in expenditure reductions
- $5.4 billion in borrowing
- $7.8 billion in federal stimulus funds
- $957 million in line-item budget vetoes
The final budget agreement reached by the legislature and Governor will result in California’s K-12 public education funding being reduced by $8.6 billion. Still under discussion is the impact of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on school districts. Under the federal stimulus plan, California’s K-12 educational programs have been allocated approximately $7 billion. When and how school districts will receive those dollars is still being played out at both the federal and state levels. By most accounts, this state budget is the most intricate and dynamic in the history of public education in California.
The Elk Grove Unified School District’s Superintendent, cabinet and staff are working on how these new numbers will specifically affect EGUSD’s budget. When the revised numbers become available they will be posted on this webpage.
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February 4, 2009 Special Board of Education Meeting
At the February 4, 2009, Special Board of Education meeting, the Board of Education was presented with the preliminary proposed budget reductions from the district’s budget committee. These proposed reductions are the result of weeks of work by the 60 member budget committee and input from parents and community members.
California, EGUSD must begin to consider difficult decisions on how to cope with the Governor’s proposed budget reductions. School districts must comply with the state-mandated March 15, 2009, deadline for the notification of certificated staff regarding the possibility of layoffs. As per our past practice, EGUSD will proceed with the notification of classified staff on a timeline consistent with certificated staff notifications.
Based on the Governor’s January proposal, the district would have to make $15 million in one-time, mid-year cuts in 2008-2009. We would also have to make $26 million in ongoing cuts in 2009-2010 and an additional $24 million in 2010-2011. Please know that we believe that we will be able to make the $15 million in mid-year cuts for this year without laying-off any personnel.
The Superintendent has requested that the Budget Committee consider potential cuts through the lens of:
- Cutting things, not people. Education is a people business. People make the difference in the lives of our students. We will cut things before people whenever possible.
- Safety being a top priority at the Elk Grove Unified School District. Students who do not feel safe do not learn well.
- Maintaining cleanliness. Like safety, a clean environment benefits all students, teachers and staff. We have invested millions of dollars in our buildings and campuses and intend to maintain our capital facilities. We will maintain our investments for our community and our children.
- Academic achievement continuing to be a priority. Student achievement is the underlying focus of everything we do and therefore goes into any decision about budget cuts.
The Budget Committee has considered many ideas and suggestions from staff, parents and community members along the baseline of these priorities. The ideas and recommendations presented include a number of items and initiatives that must be negotiated with our labor unions and associations and include a reduction of respective work calendars; the elimination or redirection of lottery bonuses; the suspension of annual step and column increases on the salary schedule; and, changing health benefit plan designs. All of these recommendations have been shared with the respective bargaining units for their consideration as possible strategies to reduce the deficit.
The PRELIMINARY list of POSSIBLE reductions is a result of the ideas and suggestions from staff, parents and the community. The district cannot stress enough that these possible reductions are preliminary and the district will continue to refine this list as we move forward. No decisions have been made at this point. The list is sorted into four tiers. The first two tiers are things – not people. They are not listed in order of priority.
Board Resolution
Resolution #50 - 2008-09, Solving the Budget Crisis
2008-2009 Budget Development Archives
The Governor’s January Budget Proposal
Every January the Governor of California is tasked with the development and release of a proposed budget for the coming year. Much of this work builds upon the previous year’s finances, reflects current economic realities and prepares the state for its financial future. The Governor’s recently released proposal for the 2009-2010 fiscal year includes what could be some of the deepest cuts in the history of California.
The Governor’s budget proposal takes into account the growing current year deficit and a projected deficit for 2009-2010. That combined deficit is estimated to be approximately $42 billion over 18 months. The Governor and legislators seem to have very different ideas of how to address the growing deficit. At the time of this writing, they have failed to come to a consensus.
In the meantime, public education institutions are forced to begin to find solutions to their share of the cuts that are likely to take place, both mid-year and in 2009-2010.
The following information will help explain the current budget situation and its impact on EGUSD:
Governor's Budget Proposals
Questions and Answers on Governor's January Proposed 2009-2010 Budget
1. What is the Governor's proposal for funding education in 2009-2010?
The Governor’s proposed budget seeks to address the state’s estimated $42 billion deficit through a combination of budget cuts, lottery revenue and tax increases. The Education Coalition has estimated that this is a $13.7 billion loss to public education over 18 months -- the largest share of the state budget reductions.
The proposal includes:
• The state will not provide the annual statutory increased funding (Cost of Living Adjustment) to the districts' base revenue of 5.66 percent for the 2008-09 year, or 5.02 percent for 2009-2010 year. In addition, the Governor proposes further cuts to the districts' current base revenue for the 2008-2009 and 2009-2010 years bringing the total reduction in revenues to a little over 16 percent.
• Flexibility to the way in which school districts spend categorical dollars.
• The latitude for school districts to eliminate five school days from the state’s requirement. However, should this be something everyone wants to pursue, it must be negotiated.
2. How does the budget proposal impact Elk Grove Unified?
Under the Governor's proposed budget, the district would need to make $15 million in one-time mid-year cuts for 2008-2009. In 2009-2010, EGUSD would need to make about $26 million in ongoing cuts and an additional $24 million in ongoing cuts in 2010-2011. This estimate is conservative. The district is planning for the worst case scenario and hoping for the best.
Cutting more than $50 million from EGUSD’s budget over the next two years will be very difficult. About 85 percent of a typical school district budget goes towards personnel costs – salaries and benefits. The remaining 15 percent goes to fixed costs such as textbooks, materials, utilities, insurance, fuel, and a mandated reserve of two percent.
3. Why is the district’s ending fund balance projected to be negative over the next three years?
In building a three year projected district budget, the district’s expenditures are expected to be more than the district’s revenues, meaning that the district is deficit spending.
As of the 1st interim report in November 2008, the district was faced with projected deficit spending of negative $1.08 million in 2008-2009, negative $12.6 million in 2009-2010 and negative $10.7 million in 2010-2011.
Now, with updated information from the Governor’s proposed budget, the district is faced with a projected deficit spending of negative $21.8 million in 2008-2009, negative $38 million in 2009-2010 and negative $50.8 million in 2010-2011.
In order to control deficit spending and submit a balanced budget, the district must make cuts.
4. How much does the district have in its undesignated ending fund balance?
The deficit spending is quickly depleting the district’s undesignated ending fund balance. At the time of the 1st interim report the district was anticipating a unrestricted ending fund balance of $20.1 million for 2008-2009, $7.8 million for 2009-2010 and negative $3.1 million in 2010-2011.
Based on the Governor’s January proposed budget, prior to cuts, the district has adjusted these projections to be negative $0.6 million in 2008-2009, negative $38.3 million in 2009-2010 and negative $89.4 million in 2010-2011.
The implementation of cuts of $15 million in one-time funds in 2008-2009, $26 million in ongoing funds in 2009-2010 and an additional $24 million in ongoing funds in 2010-2011 would change the ending fund balance. With the reductions the district’s ending fund balance is projected to be $14.4 million in 2008-2009, $2.7 million in 2009-2010 and $1.6 million in 2010-2011.
5. What cuts has EGUSD made in the past?
In 2002-2003 and 2003-2004, Elk Grove Unified made significant cuts to administrative assistants, transportation, custodians, and maintenance and operations positions. Many of these positions have never been restored due to limited funding.
Between 2005 to present, other positions have either been eliminated or not filled, such as the Chief of Staff, a Secondary Education Director, a Summer School Director, an Elementary Education Director and an English Language Director.
For the 2008-2009 budget, EGUSD also made $12.5 million in cuts, eliminating 64 positions. The positions included instructional coaches and high school teachers.
6. What are the district’s priorities as it faces making cuts?
As always, the district’s primary focus is on its students and academic achievement. Another priority for the district is to maintain safe and clean campuses. Students and staff need to feel safe in order to teach and learn. Students and staff need to be in a clean, healthy environment in order to focus on education. Finally, wherever possible, the district will eliminate “things” (textbook renewal, supplies, etc.) before people, to the extent possible.
For many years, the district has tried to keep cuts as far away from the classroom as possible. As was the case for 2008-2009, this is no longer possible. With the magnitude of cuts the district is facing, there will likely be reductions made to EGUSD’s educational programs.
7. How will the possibility of flexibility in categorical funding affect EGUSD?
The Governor’s January proposal includes the possibility of allowing school districts flexibility in how they use categorical dollars. Categorical funding is included in the general fund but has restrictions imposed by the state or federal government, which mandates how a district spends categorical dollars. If the Governor and legislature agree to allow school districts the choice of how to spend those categorical dollars, school districts will have greater flexibility in how they implement budget cuts.
Flexibility in categorical spending would place EGUSD in a much better position to deal with the $15 million in mid-year cuts for 2008-2009. In anticipation of this, EGUSD has frozen all non-essential categorical spending for the current year. EGUSD has about $20 million in categorical funds that could be used to offset the mid-year budget cuts.
It is unlikely that the state will have a final determination regarding categorical flexibility prior to the statutory March 15 deadline to notify certificated personnel of possible layoffs. EGUSD will have to create two separate budget plans – one with flexibility in categorical spending, the other without. Unless the state makes a decision regarding flexibility in categorical spending prior to March 15, the district will have to notice certificated personnel affected by both reduction plans.
8. How would the Governor’s proposal to cut five days from the state required school calendar affect EGUSD?
Cutting five days from the school calendar, and thus five days of state funding, equates to about $8 million to EGUSD. School calendars are negotiated items. EGUSD currently has a negotiated calendar for the next three years. In order to change the calendar, EGUSD and the Elk Grove Education Association would have to agree with this flexibility and negotiate the change.
9. What’s next for EGUSD?
The district has a budget committee comprised of about 60 representatives who are working diligently to identify cuts that will enable us to submit a state mandated balanced budget.
Public education funding as a process demands school districts comply with several legally required timelines, including the notification of certificated staff of possible layoff by March 15. Final certificated staffing actions must be made by May 15. Classified staff must be given a 45-day notice, prior to the layoff being implemented.
The Board of Education must adopt the district’s final budget for the next fiscal year by June 30. That adoption also includes a budget projection for the following two fiscal years, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012. The state’s budget is often not adopted and signed by the Governor until well beyond the statutory requirement of July 1.
The district will continue to examine and reconsider options from today through the June 30 deadline for adopting a district budget.
10. Why does the district have to notice more people than the positions that may possibly be cut?
Once a school district has identified the particular kinds of certificated services it intends to reduce and/or eliminate, the district is required by state law to utilize employees’ seniority date and credentials to identify and determine the order of employees terminated.
The actual number of notices issued can, and usually do, exceed the exact number of full time employee positions identified for possible elimination due to: large numbers of employees occupying the same seniority date; employee “bumping” rights; and a reasonable number of extra notices in the event an administrative law judge disagrees with an individual’s status. The latter is largely due to a recent court decision that the district must consider.
11. Why are some classified positions notified annually?
Classified layoffs are permissible under two distinct conditions, lack of funds or lack of work. When funding is not guaranteed annually, the term “soft monies” is utilized. Typically, most positions supported through grant dollars or state/federal categorical dollars, cannot be guaranteed every year. In these situations, the classified services are eliminated or reduced due to a potential lack of funds. Over the last several years, the district has had to notice classified personnel for this reason. Generally, most of these people are offered re-employment when the district receives confirmation that funding is restored for the positions or alternative funding has been obtained. When we cannot fund the position, the district attempts to place people in alternative open positions within the district whenever possible.
12. How can you help?
Parents, students, staff and community members should contact the Governor and local legislators to express your views on funding for public education.
Stay informed. Follow media reports and keep updated with information on the EGUSD website.
And spread the word. Only four states spend less money on public education than California – a reality that will only worsen with more cuts. Raise the question among friends and family – what will be our legacy as Californians if we fail to educate our children?
Finally, you can share your ideas or questions with EGUSD below in the comments section. By working together we will be able to find the best solutions for our children.
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December 2008 Budget Update
On December 1, 2008, the National Bureau of Economic Research declared that the U.S. has been in a recession for a year. State officials have made it clear that the economic downturn is having a severe impact on the state budget, from which school district’s receive the majority of our funding. The Governor has called a special session of the legislature to solve the estimated $11.2 billion current-year shortfall.
At the time of this writing, the Governor’s solution to this shortfall is a proposed $4.5 billion in mid-year cuts and $4.4 billion in new revenues for the 2008-2009 fiscal year. One of the Governor’s solutions to closing the budget shortfall is to make $2.2 billion in mid-year cuts to K-12 education. The size of mid-year reductions in funding being discussed translates to approximately $20 million less for EGUSD.
Please know that the district is being proactive in instituting several cost-saving measures now in anticipation of the cuts being considered by the state. The district has a $25 million reserve fund that will be used to assist EGUSD in weathering these tough budget times. The district’s reserves are only a cushion and not the solution. It is likely that the district will be forced to consider drastic cuts once the Governor roles out his proposed budget in January.
The district administration will continue to monitor the situation and post updates to Budget Watch as they become available.
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Governor’s Signed Budget
On September 23, 2008, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger signed a $103.4 billion California state general-fund budget, allocating $58.1 billion to education.
The state budget provides a .68 percent COLA on revenue limit funding only. Californian school districts’ revenue limits will have a deficit in state funding of 4.7 percent in 2008-2009.
While we are relieved that the state finally has a signed budget, there is a lot of uncertainty ahead. The U.S. is still grappling with the collapse of major financial institutions. The housing mortgage crisis continues unabated. August marked the highest unemployment rate in California and the Sacramento region since 1996. California’s economic future remains uncertain. There is little prospect for significant state budget reform under the current two-thirds majority requirements for revenue packages.
Seemingly, each day, another media story appears which illustrates our state’s fiscal volatility and concerns. Recently, the state’s “Big 5” leaders, including the governor, met to discuss the state’s worsening budget outlook. In three months time, the governor will be rolling out his January budget proposal for the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
The Elk Grove Unified School District will continue to monitor the state’s budget. We will post updates to Budget Watch as more information becomes available.
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Governor's Budget Proposals
Questions and Answers on Governor's January Proposed 2008-2009 Budget
1. What is the Governor's proposal for funding education in 2008-09?
The Governor has pledged to eliminate the state's $14 to $16 billion budget shortfall through cuts alone, with no tax increases. He has proposed a 10 percent reduction across the board. He seeks to suspend Proposition 98, a state law passed by voters to set minimum funding for education.
For education, the proposal includes a 4.94 percent Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) which is subsequently reduced by a 6.99 percent deficit factor. This has the net effect of funding the 2008-09 revenue limit at a level that is 2.4 percent lower than 2007-08. The proposal calls for cuts of 6.5 to 7.0 percent in various other specially funded educational programs, including special education.
This translates into $4.8 billion in proposed cuts to public education. School districts in Sacramento County stand to lose $85 million.
2. How does this impact education across California?
Across California, the Governor’s proposal to remove $4.8 billion from education could mean:
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More than 107,000 teachers or 137,000 classified personnel losing their jobs
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The decrease in per pupil funding by more than $800
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More than $24,000 per classroom cut across the state
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Increase of class sizes by as much as 35%
In Sacramento County the $4.8 billion would mean school districts in our region would together have to cut $85 million from budgets. These cuts could mean:
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More than 600 school employees could lose their jobs countywide
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Several districts are considering increasing class sizes
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Programs such as music, art, PE, summer school, library services, and instructional support may be greatly reduced or eliminated
In other words, the cuts will affect every child in every classroom at every California public school.
3. How does the budget proposal impact Elk Grove Unified?
Under the Governor's proposed budget, the district would need to cut $25 million from the 2008/2009 and 2009/2010 budgets. This estimate is conservative. The district is planning for the worst case scenario and hoping for the best.
The loss of $25 million would be significant for EGUSD. Eighty-five percent of a typical school district budget pays the people who teach our children and operate and maintain schools. The remaining 15 percent goes to fixed costs such as textbooks, materials, utilities, insurance, fuel, and a mandated reserve of three percent (3%).
Cuts may mean losing employees. During the last state budget cuts to public education in 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, Elk Grove Unified made significant cuts in administrative assistants, transportation, custodians, maintenance and operations. The district has avoided cuts among teachers because losing teachers would strike at the core of our mission. This time under the Governor’s proposal, cuts will hit the classroom. That cannot be avoided if the district will be forced to cut $25 million from our budget.
Some of the cuts that Elk Grove Unified is facing include eliminating 9th grade class size reduction in English and math at the district’s comprehensive high schools. In addition the district has identified cuts for instructional coaches and resource teachers, professionals who support efforts to increase student achievement and lower the achievement gap. Other areas include unfilled vacant administrative positions and a review of administrative staffing, which is already below state averages.
Finally the district will reduce textbook funds, summer school offerings, supplies, professional learning opportunities and other services.
EGUSD Preliminary Projected Unrestricted General Fund Budget Cuts
4. What’s next for EGUSD?
Our goal is to maintain the excellence of the educational opportunities we provide at Elk Grove Unified. Some of these opportunities will suffer reductions. The law requires a March 15 deadline for issuing lay-off notices to certificated employees if their jobs may not be available for the 2008-09 school year. The district also has a May 15 deadline to meet to notify classified personnel.
From today through the June 30 deadline for adopting a district budget, the district will examine and reconsider options.
5. Why does the district have to notice more people than the positions that may possibly be cut?
Once a school district has identified the particular kinds of certificated services it intends to reduce and/or eliminate, the district is required by State law to utilize employees’ seniority date and credentials to identify and determine the order of employees terminated.
The actual number of notice issues can, and usually do, exceed the exact number of full time employee positions identified for possible elimination due to: large numbers of employees occupying the same seniority date; employee “bumping” rights; and a reasonable number of extra notices in the event an Administrative Law Judge disagrees with an individual’s status. The later is largely due to a recent court decision that the District must consider.
6. Why are some of the classified positions notified annually?
Classified layoffs are appropriate under two distinct conditions, lack of funds or lack of work.
All of the classified positions included in the current resolutions are due to a potential lack of funding. When funding is not guaranteed annually, the term “soft monies” is utilized. Typically, most positions supported through grant dollars or state/federal categorical dollars, cannot be guarantee every year. In these situations, the classified services are eliminated or reduced due to a potential lack of funds. Over the last several years, the district has had to notice classified personnel for this reason. Generally, most of these people are offered reemployment when the funding is restored for the positions or alternative funding is obtained. When we cannot fund the position, the district attempts to place people in alternative open positions within the district whenever possible.
7. How can you help?
Parents, students, staff and community members should contact the Governor and local legislators to express your views on funding for public education.
Stay informed. Follow media reports and keep updated with information on the EGUSD website.
And spread the word. Only four states spend less money on public education than California – a reality that will only worsen with more cuts. Raise the question among friends and family – what will be our legacy as Californians if we fail to educate our children?
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What is the governor’s May budget revise proposal for public education?
Below is a summary of key points in the governor’s May revise and how it would affect K-12 public education funding:
- The proposal would restore $1.8 billion for public education
- There would be no suspension of the voter approved Proposition 98 minimum guarantee for public education funding in the 2008-2009 fiscal year
- There would be no further current-year cuts to public education funding
- The proposal does not provide a cost-of-living increase
- Some programs, including transportation, class-size reduction and counseling, still face a 10% cut
- Governor Schwarzenegger proposed to sell $15 billion in bonds to Wall Street investors in order to close the state’s $17.2 billion budget gap.
- $5 billion would be used for the 2008-2009 budget
- $10 billion would be go into a reserve for the state to use in a future fiscal crisis
- $1.2 billion in state lottery revenue would continue to fund public education
- The governor’s proposal to sell the bonds against future lottery profits must be approved by the voters in November.
- If the voters do not approve the bond sales, the governor’s proposal includes a backup plan to automatically increase the state’s sales tax by 1 percentage point. The sales tax increase would stay in effect for up to three years.
How has the Elk Grove Unified School District’s budget outlook been affected by the Governor’s May revise?
The Elk Grove Unified School District has adjusted its budget outlook for the next three years based on the Governor’s May revise. The district understands that the final state budget could be very different from the May revise. However, the district must work with the most current information available.
Based on the May revise, the district will have to cut approximately $15 million in 2008-2009, 2009-2010 and 2010-2011. Of the $15 million, about $2.5 million is due to state budget cuts. The remaining $12.5 million is due to increased costs in the district, such as step and column salary increases, rising food and fuel costs and spiraling heath care costs.
The district is waiting for the final state budget before reinstating programs. The district is using its reserves to account for the current fluctuation in the budget outlook. District administration is working on a priority plan of adding back programs in case the final state budget allocates more funding than is expected for public education.
School districts have 45 days after the Governor signs the state budget to revise their own budgets based on the new figures.
California School Districts’ Budget Cycle Calendar
Governor’s Budget
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May 14, 2008 Special Board of Education Meeting Update
At the May 14, 2008 meeting of the Board of Education, board members accepted the administrative law judge’s order to notify in writing 51 certificated employees of final notice by May 15th.
The 51 notices are for the 81 teaching positions being eliminated due to the proposed state budget cuts to the district’s general fund. The remaining 30 positions are being eliminated through attrition.
The 81 positions being eliminated include:
Based on the governor’s proposed budget released in January*, EGUSD is faced with cutting $25 million from the general fund in 2008-2009 and again in 2009-2010. In order to submit a balanced budget as required by law by July 1, the district proposed to cut to high school 9th grade class size reduction, instructional coaching, summer school, professional learning, department budgets, management expenditures, textbook funding and new school start-up funds. In addition, the district will use approximately $12.8 million in reserves.
An additional 127 notices have gone out to classified personnel for the possible elimination of 70 positions. Most of these positions are funded through grant or categorical monies and categorical dollars and will be restored once funding is secured. For many of these positions, this is an annual process.
The notices that were sent to Healthy Start employees have been rescinded as funding for the program has been secured for another year.
*The Governor released a revised budget on May 14, 2008. District staff members are analyzing the new budget information and its impact on EGUSD. Budget Watch will be updated with new information as soon as the analysis has been completed.
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Board of Education Meeting Updates
April 1, 2008 Board of Education Meeting Update
At the April 1, 2008, Board of Education meeting, Board members took action on a resolution that will eliminate the possibility of a change to kindergarten class size reduction in the 2008-2009 school year. Kindergarten class size reduction was under consideration as a possible budget cut based on the Governor’s budget proposal.
The change to kindergarten included the reduction of 56 teachers at an ongoing savings to the district of approximately $1.1 million. The proposal was to change kindergarten from the 20:1 student/teacher ratio to the 100-minute model.
After much deliberation, the Board of Education agreed with and approved a recommendation by Superintendent Ladd and district administration to maintain kindergarten class size reduction for at least one more year in 2008/2009 with one time expenditures.
The district will use $1.1 million in reserves to make up the difference of the kindergarten teachers. However, that $1.1 million in reserves is already dedicated to the $25 million in cuts that the district may have to make in 2009-2010. This will put the district in a position of possibly having to cut deeper in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
Due to the uncertainty of the final state budget and future state budgets, the district may only be delaying the cut to kindergarten class size reduction by one year.
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March 4, 2008 Board of Education Meeting Update
On March 4, 2008 the Elk Grove Unified School District initiated the legally required steps to notify certificated personnel and classified personnel of potential layoffs for the 2008-2009 school year.
California Education Code section 44949 requires that certificated personnel be formally notified in writing by March 15 if there is a possibility that their position may be eliminated in the coming fiscal year. The school district has until May 15 to make a final decision relative to the status of the certificated employees noticed. Classified personnel must be given 45 days notice prior to final action.
The Elk Grove Unified School District is reacting to the Governor’s proposed state budget, which would cut $4.8 billion from state funding of public education in 2008/2009. Those cuts would mean that EGUSD would have to cut $25 million in order to submit a balanced budget to the state as required by law by July 1.
At the March 4th EGUSD Board of Education meeting, the governing board took action on several resolutions directing the associate superintendent of human resources to notify 247 certificated employees and 141 classified employees of the potential reduction in force. The layoff notices represent 137 full-time equivalent certificated positions and 80 full-time equivalent classified positions.
The difference in number between total notices (388) and total positions (217) is because many of the district’s employees are not full-time. For example, two part-time employees may make-up one position. In addition, notifications are based on seniority and start-dates. In several cases, multiple employees have the same seniority date. Therefore, each employee receives a notice. On March 11, the Board of Education will take action on a resolution outlining the tie-breaking criteria for employees with the same start date.
The decision to issue notices represents preliminary projected cuts in response to the governor’s proposed budget unveiled earlier this January. If the potential state reductions to public education change in the coming weeks and months, EGUSD’s proposed cuts would be modified accordingly.
For more information about the positions, please click on the resolutions below.
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Media Story Archives
January 14, 2010
Sac Bee: Sacramento-area schools say Schwarzenegger wants cuts they're already making
Contra Costa Times: Governor's promise to 'protect education' rings hollow as schools look at fine print
January 13, 2010
E.G. Citizen: EGUSD considers new federal stimulus program, with caution
E.G. Citizen: Time to do with what we have . . .
Sac Bee: Twin Rivers district reaches out to parents
January 8, 2010
Sac Bee: Some capital-area school districts sit out race for federal funds
S.F. Chronicle: “A” for education effort
S.F. Chronicle: State education plan makes parents responsible
L.A. Times: Schwarzenegger signs school legislation
January 7, 2010
Sac Bee: California Race to the Top bills give parents more say in schools
December 06, 2009
L.A. Times: Capistrano Unified teachers protest proposed 10% pay cut
December 01, 2009
N.Y. Times: Class Sizes Rise, Mostly Due to Budget Cuts
November 29, 2009
L.A. Times: Budget cuts hit broad swath of Cal State
November 24, 2009
Sac Bee: LA school district chief warns of big deficit
L.A. Times: Some L.A. Unified workers agree to furloughs
November 20, 2009
E.G. Citizen: SOS cry works, water sports supporters' plea recognized
E.G. Citizen: Sen. Steinberg says water package is good for Nor Cal, pledges support for EGUSD
Sac Bee: District board votes to shut two elementary campuses
Sac Bee: Dan Walters: Newest state budget clash will be bloody
November 19, 2009
Sac Bee: School district outlines huge program, staff cuts
Sac Bee: The Buzz: Assembly returning to vote for a shot at education stimulus funds
Sac Bee: California needs $20.7 billion more to balance next budget
L.A. Times: State's school funding process is failing
News 10: Stockton Unified Schools Facing Tough Choices
News 3: 2 Rancho Cordova Schools May Close
November 18, 2009
Sac Bee: Forecast: California faces another massive deficit
November 16, 2009
Sac Bee: District chief recommends 2 elementary schools close
Sac Bee: Editorial: Last resort for schools: Closure
November 13, 2009
E.G. Citizen: Momentum continues to build, moving 'Support CA Kids' in statewide direction
E.G. Citizen: Cutbacks not just affecting athletics
November 04, 2009
E.G. Citizen: Solving $42 million school district budget shortfall
October 30, 2009
E.G. Citizen: Local parents form campaign fight for more funds for schools
October 28, 2009
E.G. Citizen: Is there a ‘Glimmer’ of hope of saving jobs with the school district’s $42 million shortfall?
October 7, 2009
E.G. Citizen: EGUSD talks budget cuts
October 2, 2009
E.G. Citizen: School district to host community meetings on budget situation
E.G. Citizen: Cutbacks might be worse than initial thought
October 1, 2009
Sacramento Bee: Budget woes, school reform collide
Santa Cruz Sentinel: Mr. Simitian goes to Washington to lobby for schools
September 27, 2009
S.F. Chronicle: State's schools feel squeeze of larger classes
August 26, 2009
E.G. Citizen: Huge $40 million school district budget shortfall coming for 2010-11
Sacbee: School libraries could close if Folsom Cordova-union impasse not settled
S.F. Chronicle: With fewer classes, cramming starts on Day 1
August 4, 2009
Sacbee: First furloughs scheduled at CSUS
July 25, 2009
Sacbee: California schools may miss out on federal funds
Sacbee: David W. Gordon: Education cuts compromise our future
July 24, 2009
Sacbee: Budget cuts to hit hard at Sacramento State
July 23, 2009
Sacbee: School districts in Sacramento region were ready for budget cuts
Sacbee: Districts pare their budgets
July 22, 2009
Sacbee: Dan Walters: Dead-of-night budget deals may backfire
Sacbee: Editorial: New budget deal won't end crisis
July 16, 2009
Sacbee: Schwarzenegger, lawmakers working on school cuts
July 14, 2009
Sacbee: Schwarzenegger, lawmakers to meet again on budget
July 12, 2009
Sacbee: Schwarzenegger's call to suspend Prop. 98 jolts Capitol
July 10, 2009
E.G. Citizen: School board OKs $4.4 million cut
May 22, 2009
E.G. Citizen: EGUSD budget projects $17 million deficit by 2010
May 21, 2009
L.A. Times: Schools prepare for devastating losses of funding
May 15, 2009
S.F. Chronicle: Ballot measures' impact on education
S.F. Chronicle: Governor's budget cuts schools, borrows billions
May 8, 2009
E.G. Citizen: School district awaits federal stimulus
April 17, 2009
E.G. Citizen: School board OKs $30.3 million in budget cuts
April 15, 2009
Sac Bee: Five schools on the cutting block
Sac Bee: Editorial: Time for action at Sac Unified
L.A. Times: L.A. Unified moves to cut 5,000 teachers and others
April 8, 2009
E.G. Citizen: School board reviews spending cuts for programs
E.G. Citizen: Proposed program cuts for the Elk Grove Unified School District
April 1, 2009
L.A. Times: Federal funds may not stave off classroom cuts, California educators say
March 30, 2009
L.A. Times: L.A. Unified cuts spark protests, finger-pointing
March 17, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: College students and staff protest budget cuts, proposed fee hikes
March 16, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Marchers to protest education cuts at Capitol
March 14, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Sac City offers tentative ideas to close, consolidate schools
March 13, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Capitol protest targets teacher layoffs
March 12, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Teachers, students brace for San Juan school district cuts
March 11, 2009
E.G. Citizen: Hundreds of school employees face possible layoffs
L.A. Times: L.A. Unified board OKs layoff notices to about 9,000 employees
March 04, 2009
News 3: Davis, Elk Grove Schools To Eliminate Jobs
March 03, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: School district cutbacks a blow to rural economies
March 02, 2009
E.G. Citizen: EGUSD to review open enrollment, budget issues
The Sacramento Bee: Mt. Diablo school officials to vote on budget cuts
News 3: Modesto School District Eliminates Jobs
February 27, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Berkeley schools to notify teachers of jobcuts
February 24, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: New budget rules loosen up school funding
Sign on San Diego: Vista school district considers cutbacks
February 23, 2009
Redlands Daily Facts: School district finds ways to cut
ABC 7: SF Unified announces teacher layoffs
Tri-Valley Herald: San Joaquin school closures abound
Contra Costa Times: School district discusses layoff possibility
February 19, 2009
KCRA News 3: Lodi Unified Votes To Send 397 Layoff Notices
Record Net: Distressed Lodi Unified cuts 397 jobs
The Sacramento Bee: Budget plan goes to Schwarzenegger after Legislature's OK
February 18, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Senate GOP dumps leader as budget standoff goes on
February 17, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: California lawmakers stymied for third day on budget
The Sacramento Bee: Editorials: Laying off teachers is not inevitable
February 13, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Sacramento-area teachers brace for layoff warnings
February 11, 2009
Elk Grove Citizen: School district tells bad budget news to public
January 31, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Budget hit for California schools clear - how much isn't
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January 28, 2009
E.G. Citizen: Budget outlook grim for local schools
January 16, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Schwarzenegger's message: Defer big ideas, pass a budget
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January 15, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: California could run out of cash by Feb. 1, analysts say
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January 12, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: California education tax echoes 1980s battle
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January 12, 2009
L.A. Times: Gains in school achievement are at risk from budget ax
January 12, 2009
S.F. Chronicle: Schwarzenegger skips school
January 12, 2009
S.F. Chronicle: Cuts to state education budget
January 11, 2009
The Sacramento Bee: Q&A: How does Schwarzenegger's proposal to reduce school days save money?
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January 10, 2009
Sacramento Bee: California teachers prepare a tax-hike initiative
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December 9, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: California Legislature told projects could be shut down
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December 9, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Dan Walters: Worst deficit news waits around the corner You must register w/Sacbee to view the above article
December 9, 2008
Los Angeles Times: California fiscal officials try 'Scared Straight' approach with Legislature
December 2, 2008
The Elk Grove Citizen: Crossing their fingers for the next three years
November 10, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Schwarzenegger: furloughs part of sharing the pain
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November 10, 2008
The San Francisco Chronicle: Quick fix for state budget problems a long shot
November 9, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: California budget battle looks like it'll be a rerun
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October 28, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Governor will call special legislative session on budget
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October 28, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Dan Walters: Budget crunch puts schools on cutting board
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October 21, 2008
The Mercury News: Schwarzenegger: Lawmakers must address budget woes
October 21, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Lame duck budget session likely
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October 21, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Dan Walters: Wait till after Nov. 4 is new budget
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October 19, 2008
Los Angeles Times: States face new budget shortfalls
October 16, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: State sells nearly $4 billion in bonds
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October 14, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Big 6 Set for Wednesday
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October 11, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Schools wary as more budget cuts loom
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October 11, 2008
The Inland Daily Bulletin: Financial uncertainties hang over schools, local governments
September 24, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: California budget may already be upside-down
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September 24, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: Governor cuts, signs long-overdue budget
September 24, 2008
Los Angeles Times: Arnold Schwarzenegger signs $145-billion California budget
July 17, 2008
Sacramento Bee: Schwarzenegger criticizes lawmakers for not reaching budget deal
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July 16, 2008
Sacramento Bee: Assembly goes on vacation amid California budget deadlock
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July 15, 2008
Sacramento Bee: Budget Standoff, day 15: Perata sends senators home
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July 15, 2008
Sacramento Bee: Q&A: Sacramento Assemblyman Dave Jones defends Democrats' state tax package
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July 14, 2008
Sacramento Bee: Dan Walters: Fantasies and error abound on state budget
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June 12, 2008
Sacramento Bee: Senate Dems call for tax increases
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June 6, 2008
Sacramento Bee: Dan Walters: Parties far apart on fixing California's budget deficit
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June 5, 2008
Reuters: California Democrats unveil rival state budget
May 21, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: Schwarzenegger defends budget, lottery plan
May 20, 2008
Sacramento Bee: Governor's lottery budget plan could shortchange education, state analyst says
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May 19, 2008
Los Angeles Times: It's time for straight talk on budget from the voters
May 16, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Governor says budget ball is in lawmakers' court
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May 15, 2008
Los Angeles Times: New Schwarzenegger budget for California would divert gas taxes
May 15, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Tough budget decision shifted to voters
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May 15, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Q&A: How the lottery proposal would work
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May 14, 2008
The Sacramento Bee: Analysis: Schwarzenegger faces rough sledding on state budget negotiations
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May 12, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: New state budget plan may carry hard choices
May 12, 2008
San Diego Union-Tribune: Deficit ensnares another governor
April 30, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: Poll: Californians worried about budget crisis in schools
April 30, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: BUDGET BOMBSHELL – Governor boosts deficit forecast to $20 billion as he bids to change state's spending system
April 30, 2008
Los Angeles Times: California divided over new taxes for schools, poll finds
April 30, 2008
KXJZ News: Schools and the Budget Crisis
April 15, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “Elk Grove school district rescinds 194 layoff notices”
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April 3, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “Elk Grove schools keep pupil-teacher ratio”
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March 25, 2008
Education Week: “Calif. School Reform Plan Released - Governor says ‘financial disaster’ shows need for rainy-day fund”
March 20, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: “Education budget cuts are not in California’s interest”
March 18, 2008
Los Angeles Times: “State's school districts prepare for cuts, layoffs”
March 16, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “Dan Walters: School mess cataloged once again”
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March 15, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “Governor backs report on education changes. Noting budget crunch, he lauds proposals that would cost $10.5 billion.”
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March 14, 2008
KCRA 3: Study: Sweeping Education Change Needed - Layoffs Affecting Teachers Statewide
March 14, 2008
San Francisco Chronicle: Núñez's bill taxing oil companies falls short
March 10, 2008
ABC7News: Educators demand budget solution
March 8, 2008
Sacramento Bee: California budget talks going nowhere fast
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March 7, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “Garamendi, education leaders urge governor to reconsider $4.8 billion cut”
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March 5, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “Elk Grove board issues layoff notices for 217 school jobs”
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Sacramento Bee: “Elk Grove district could increase kindergarten class size to save money”
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Los Angeles Times: “State Democrats determined to raise taxes”
March 4, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “Perata rejects governor’s call for cutting education spending”
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Elk Grove Citizen: “School officials rally against proposed budget cuts”
February 29, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “School budgets squeezed; Battle begins to limit losses”
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News10.net: “Sacramento schools scramble to close budget gaps”
Los Angeles Times: “Schwarzenegger wants to close some tax loopholes”
February 21, 2008
Sacramento Bee: State budget analyst floats rival plan to governor’s
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January 11, 2008
Sacramento Bee: “Prop 98 secures school funding”
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EGUSD Budget Communications/Events
EGUSD Spotlight - Sacramento County Educators Host Budget Forum at State Capital
EGUSD Spotlight - Elk Grove Unified Joins Call to Fix Governor’s Proposed Budget
EGUSD Spotlight - Elk Grove Unified Hosts Sacramento County Superintendents’ Press Conference on State Budget Cuts
EGUSD Board of Education Budget Resolution
EGUSD Superintendent's Message
link back to the EGUSD Budget Watch
link back to the EGUSD Newsroom
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