Agenda - 09-25-2007-7a - Laserfiche WebLink

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HAPEL H ILL- ., nRRBORO 1~`~~.. CITY SCHOOLS Board of Education Agenda Abstract. Meeting Date: September 20,.2007 Agenda Type: Work Session Agenda Item #: Subject: Proposed Budget Drivers and Budget Calendar for 2008-09 Division: Superintendent, Neil Pedersen Department: Person Neil Pedersen Feedback Cabinet Responsible: Requested From: Agenda Item....Prior Submission Dates Work Session No Date Discussion and Action No Date Attachment(s): Proposed Budget Drivers for 2008-09 Public Hearing Required: No PURPOSE: To propose changes in the budget process that will inform the Board of County Commissioners earlier in the year of the school district's financial position. and anticipated requirements for the upcoming school year. BACKGROUND: Last year's budget process was extremely difficult on all parties. Early in the process the County Commissioners established a goal of not raising property taxes except to cover the .increasing capital debt service. With the opening of a new high school and the anticipation of salary increases of 4 to 5 percent, it was clear that the Commissioners' goal could not be met unless the school district made major reductions in its budget. This caused our school district to convene a special committee to determine where cuts, if necessary, should be made. Many of these potential reductions would have resulted in the reduction of a significant number of positions. At the end of the process, the Commissioners provided considerably more funding than the Manager had recommended, thereby avoiding these cutbacks. All parties agreed that we needed a better budget process that would avoid the emotional public debate and conflict that too often occurs at the end of the school year. To that end, the CHCCS Administration has developed this proposal to accelerate the budget process. Our goal is to develop a continuation budget in the fall and to share it with the S:\schools\joint meeting September 25 2007\CHCCS budget drivers 2008-09.doc