District looks for budget stability

Published 7:30 pm Tuesday, April 3, 2012

LYNNWOOD — Edmonds School District officials continue to express gratitude to voters for supporting levies that make big budget cuts unlikely.

“In the big-picture sense, with the supplemental levy and the flattening out of the economy, we’re in a position to go from this year’s budget to next without big cuts,” Superintendent Nick Brossoit said.

More than $3.3 million will be collected next school year thanks to voters renewing a technology and capital improvements levy in February and approving a supplemental levy in August 2010.

“Thank you for the supplemental levy, thank you for the tech levy,” said Marla Miller, executive director of business and operations. “We’d be having a different conversation (without them).”

Additionally, the district will collect more than $180,000 in supplemental funding from the state thanks to the passage of House Bill 5967.

The district hosted the first of four community budget meetings March 28 at Meadowdale High School.

Officials project a more than $2 million increase in expenditures next school year.

Updates to expenditures for the 2012-13 year include $1.2 million to replace money used to balance the 2011-12 budget when enrollment came in lower than projected, $200,000 in compensation for teachers with large class sizes and more than $250,000 for all-day kindergarten at five schools.

Brossoit cautions these projections are calculated guesses as officials wait for the Legislature’s special session to wrap up later this month.

“The state has been going through a horrendous time with budget revenues,” Brossoit said. “A large portion of our funding comes from state funding.”

Reduced state funding has called for furloughs for district administrators and teachers.

“These are sacrifices made to keep the wheels on,” Brossoit said.

Have your say

Edmonds School District officials invite the community to attend one of the three remaining budget discussions for the 2012-13 school year:

• 7 p.m. April 11 at the Lynnwood High School theater, 18218 North Road, Bothell

• 4 p.m. April 18 at the Mountlake Terrace High School theater, 21801 44th Ave. W, Mountlake Terrace

• 7 p.m. April 25 at the Edmonds-Woodway High School theater, 7600 212th St. SW, Edmonds