proposed cuts as of March 16, 2010

[a.reichlin]

I am attaching a document submitted to the board by Judith Pastel entitled: Areas of Reduction from 2009-10 Staff, Services and Programs for 2010-11 3/16/2010. She was asked to keep the tax levy increase at 3.75%. These cuts represent a work-in-progress and are a starting point for discussion. Members of the board asked her to look for an additional $500,000 in cuts. I believe that some board members asked for these additional cuts so that they would have more options in terms of what stays in the budget and what gets cut. In other words, if an additional $500,000 were to be cut from the budget and they still chose to keep the tax levy at 3.75% then there might be different items put on the chopping block rather than the ones listed here. Some board members seemed to want the lower tax levy of 3%, because they would prefer to keep the tax levy down. Other members asked her to prioritize those cuts that would be the first ones put back in if circumstances at the state level improved in time.

Copies of the working document for the budget were passed out at the meeting. More should be available in a couple of days. I'll put my copy in the Fall Creek library or office.