I have seen my share of School District budgets over these past 10 to 12 years.
During the good times, it was much easier to overlook how our District prioritized its budget; knowing full-well there would be even more funding coming into the District the following year.
But it is going through these more difficult times that now has me worried.
No Long-term Strategy
I don’t see a long-term fiscal strategy in place.
These past four years I have seen our district spend more on its employees, giving them a bigger piece of an ever-shrinking funding pie.
More… More… More
I’ve seen our district continue to pay post-employment benefits out of the General Fund. I’ve seen District employees continue to receive automatic annual increases in salary; yet, this District has been deficit spending for the last three years.
Tomorrow, Tomorrow
To me, it looks as if the District strategy is only to wait and see, hoping for a better outcome down the road. Holding on the best it can while the California Legislature plays its political games in trying to get its own fiscal house in order. I have looked at this document and it does not seem to have or to support any fiscally sound or responsible long-term strategy.
House of Cards
Comparing this year’s district budget with the previous ones, you should be able to get a sense of what the ongoing, long-term fiscal strategy is. It looks as if the District keeps hedging its bet that our limited, still shrinking reserves will last long enough to weather this current national recession and California’s own long-term budgetary crisis.
Roulette Wheel Budgeting
It seems this budget tries to keep the wheel spinning; doing only what it takes to keep it going for one more year. The District’s strategy is that if it can keep its budgetary ball rolling round and round, there will be no definitive outcome for which it will be held accountable. By keeping their wheel spinning, maybe next year the budgetary ball could land in the black and not the red.
Wishful Thinking
This may be the only strategy the District can afford. I don’t know. But that doesn’t stop me from being concerned about this continued wishful thinking.
Which makes me wonder: What is our district’s long-term fiscal strategy?
Mr. Laase may be contacted at GMLaase@aol.com
