The Budget: Where do we stand and where do we go from here

The cost of running the Los Gatos Saratoga High School district next year is expected to be $36 million, according to recent estimates. The problem is that the district can expect revenues of $34.8 million.

So what’s the solution to bridge this budget gap? There is no quick cure, but district officials believe that a parcel tax is part of the answer.

The district feels confident that the parcel tax will receive the vote majority that it requires to pass early next month. Polls conducted by both the district and by EMC Research, a market and opinion firm, indicate that support for the measure within our district is above the required two-thirds threshold.

The tax would place a $49 annual fee on each parcel of land in the district and is expected to generate at least $800,000 in annual revenue for the district. If passed, the tax would be implemented for six years, earning the district around $4.8 million.

Although that sum would not be an immense amount of money compared to the total needed to run the system, it would help alleviate the district’s dependence on funding from the state.

In order to have enough funds for the 2011-2012 school year, the district plans to have various budget reductions. These will mainly involve increasing efficiency in the system, such as reducing administration at the district office and restructuring Special Education staffing.

Superintendent Cary Matsuoka believes that the school will be in good condition for next year. Students should not be able to feel much of a change, as the most noticeable tweak will probably cause a slight increase in class sizes.

However, if the bad news keeps rolling in, then the district is almost out of tricks and strategies and maneuverings to shield students from big changes, Matsuoka says. At that point, the district would have to consider cutting from the richer programs such as music or athletics in order to maintain the budget. Implementing furlough days is another solution many districts have relied on, but so far
LGSUHSD has been able to avoid.