BOE Hears Budget Presentation

At a special work session of the Long Beach Board of Education on April 2, Superintendent of Schools David Weiss presented a second draft of the proposed 2014-15 school budget. After hearing the first draft budget presentation on March 25, the Board directed Mr. Weiss to come back with suggestions for cutting up to $1 million from the proposed budget.

Mr. Weiss began the presentation by reiterating the budget and tax levy goals, which are to: maintain and improve academic programs; meet state and federal mandates; create a sustainable budget and tax levy in a tax cap environment; include debt service for the school preservation plan and storm reconstruction; and continue operational efficiencies.

Working within that framework established by these goals, Mr. Weiss reviewed a list of budget reductions that have been instituted over the past few years. He then presented a series of suggestions to the board for further budget reductions, which were listed in the order from most recommended to least recommended. The first series of reductions totaled $500,000. The second series of reductions would bring the total to $1 million.

After Mr. Weiss outlined all the options, Dr. Kenneth Graham, assistant superintendent for curriculum and instruction, reviewed what impact – if any – the reductions might have on elementary and secondary programs.

Chief Operating Officer Michael De Vito presented a detailed set of revenue projections for budgets including $500,000 or $1 million in cuts. He included two versions for each level of cuts that would produce tax levy rates of 3.75 percent (at state tax cap) or 3.25 percent (below state tax cap), by using varying amounts of money from reserves. Board members discussed all the options presented and discussed additional cuts. After considering all options, the board will adopt a final proposed budget at the April 8 meeting.

At the April 8 meeting, the board will also hear a follow-up presentation about options for rehousing the district’s administrative offices, which were destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. The first presentation on this subject, which was made to the Board at the Feb. 25 meeting, outlined a total of nine options for board consideration. The board narrowed these down to three options that will be outlined in more detail on April 8.

To view copies of these presentations, visit the School Board page of www.lbeach.org