Small Town News

State Budget Crisis Hits Home

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Over the last several weeks I have been asked by concerned patrons how our school is doing with the new imposed budget cut of $206 base state aid per pupil (BSAPP). I was reminded by several patrons that "everything appears to be okay," as they see no difference in school operations. I want to take a few moments and explain what has occurred in USD 208 Trego County Schools since the beginning of the first budget cut of $33 BSAPP in February 2009, resulting in our first cut of approximately $28,000.

The House Mega Bill HB 2354 reduced the district budget by another $33 BSAPP costing the school another $28,000 on March 31, 2009. Toward the end of last year's legislative session the legislature cut an additional $87 BSAPP costing our school district another $74,000. All totaled this accounts for an actual budget cut of $130,000 during the 2008-2009 school year. Last year the school district experienced a student growth of fourteen students, which provided the cushion in our budget to absorb the cuts without experiencing any significant change in school operations. In essence, we educated more students on the dollars allocated for a smaller number of students.

On July 2, 2009, Governor Parkinson reduced funding to schools by another $62 BSAPP under an allotment system resulting in a school base state aid per pupil of $4,218. This cut came when I was preparing the 2009-2010 budget and we absorbed a cut of $53,000 by cutting over all planned expenses and utilizing some carry over funds to make up for the shortfall.

Governor Parkinson elected to "balance" the current state budget prior to the Kansas Legislature convening by announcing on November 23, 2009 that schools will be cut another $206/BSAPP resulting in a cut of approximately $180,000 to USD 208. All totaled this represents a loss of $585/BSAPP resulting in actual funding loss of $419,000. The base state aid per pupil has decreased from $4,433 to $4,012 per student, a loss of $421 per student within a ten-month period. This represents a 9.5% reduction in spending.

Ironically, this does not include the two percent budget cut in special education funding sustained by our school district. As a result of funding cuts, the following cost-cutting measures have been implemented. We are limiting student activity transportation to one bus and support vehicle, which will carry an administrator, coaches and additional student participants. The district has cut student longdistance field trips unless the groups raise the funds to cover the cost of the trip. Textbook orders at both TGS and TCHS are on hold until the end of the year to see if funds exist to cover the replacement costs. The district contingency fund will be used when needed to make up funding losses for this year, and we are cutting fuel and utilities expenses wherever possible.

Our Board of Education members are working on additional necessary budget cuts to accommodate an anticipated enrollment budget loss of approximately $125,000 for next year. We anticipate student enrollment drop resulting from a large graduation class and a smaller entering kindergarten class. We also experienced state agencies removing students from the Secure Care program as state budget issues deepen causing us ten fewer students at count day than last year.

If the current legislative solution continues, no tax increases and further budget cutting our school district is going to experience staff and program reductions. We need your assistance by contacting Representative Don Hineman and Senator Raph Ostmeyer. Both gentlemen need your constructive ideas for resolving the entire state budget crisis, not only for schools but all state and county programs. Contrary to what many legislators are saying in newspapers and television, they do have a number of options that would generate revenue and repair the state budget. The questions is, do they have the support of you, their constituents, to resolve the issue? Please contact your legislators by phone, email or letter. I personally have discovered that personal letters are the most effective as they like to hear from you personally.

They may be contacted at the following addresses:

* Rep. Don Hineman: District 118 Kansas House of Representative, 116 S. Longhorn Road, Dighton, KS 67839. (785 296-7671 (Topeka) and (620) 397-2504 (Home). His email address is don.hineman(r)house, ks.gov. Don serves on the House Appropriations Committee that makes budget recommendations to the Kansas House.

* Senator Raph Ostmeyer, 40th District, P.O. Box 97, Grinnell, KS 67738; (785) 296-7399 (Topeka) and (785) 824-3773 (Home). His email address is Ralph.Ostmeyer@senate.ks.gov. Ralph serves on the Local Government Committee.



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© 2010 Western Kansas World Wakeeny, 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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