Small Town News

What state budget cuts mean to local schools, students

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If you live in Hope or White City chances are on a Friday evening you will be at the school. Just take a moment to look around. The parking lot is full. The bleachers are filled with students, parents, and community members having a great time watching the game. School activities are the social events of the White City and Hope communities. It does not take long to realize that schools are the heart of these communities.

Our schools, the heart of our communities, are facing unprecedented times. School districts receive almost all funding from state government. For Hope and White City Schools, this means that for every dollar in our budget, eight-nine cents comes from the state. Declining tax revenues have resulted in significant funding reductions over the past year for all schools and other governmental departments. On average, school districts across the state have lost almost 10% of their general fund budgets since June 2009.

What does a 10% reduction mean for the Hope and White City Schools? In financial terms, this is over a $300,000 loss from the planned budget for the current school year to date. This has occurred in two cuts. The first reduction came in July 2009 and the board of education in anticipation of that cut approved $159,000 in reductions. The next cut ($162,000) occurred in November 2009. The board approved spending reserves and the elimination of capital outlay transfer from the budget as well as reducing the money used for local special education expenses. In student terms, it means fewer bus routes, fewer aids to help students, fewer assistant coaches to help student athletes to name a few. It also means funds are normally set aside for emergencies will be spent. There will also be less money for building maintenance and technology upkeep. The potential exists for additional cuts for this year as well as next year if nothing is done.

Many think the national recession alone is the sole cause for the decline in tax revenues. It is only part of the story. For the rest of the story, we must look to Topeka at what our lawmakers have been giving away for the past several years. For several years, the legislators have cut all different types of taxes. These cuts now reduce revenue to the state by about a billion dollars a year. Many of these tax cuts do not benefit ordinary Kansans. In 2006, when the legislature passed funding increases for schools, it was known that there would be a $427 million shortfall in 2009. They did nothing to raise revenue to meet expenses. Below are links to lists of tax credits that are available in Kansas.

http://www.ksre venue.org/taxcredits.htm

http://www.ksrevenue.org/taxcredits-hpip.htm

http://www.ksrevenue.org/taxincent-proptaxabate.htm

Generally, tax cuts are viewed as positive. However, when the ability to adequately educate Kansas children is negatively impacted and other essential government services are cut, perhaps it is time to stop cutting and invest in the future of Kansas-- our children.

If nothing is done to raise revenue, school districts will continue to be cut. This will force cuts in staff, educational programming and extracurricular activities. The ultimate cost will be borne by the children in lost educational opportunity. We must stand united to protect the education of Kansas children.

The Rural Vista Board of Education urges you to participate in the political process. Contact your lawmakers to urge them to find ways to replace the revenue streams to restore funding to Kansas schools.

Renae Hickert, USD 481 Rural Vista Superintendent, and the Rural Vista Board of Education



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© 2010 The Prairie Post White City, Kansas. All Rights Reserved. This content, including derivations, may not be stored or distributed in any manner, disseminated, published, broadcast, rewritten or reproduced without express, written consent from DAS.

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