Ferguson-Florissant Board Weighs Cuts, Costs for 2013-14 Budget

The Ferguson-Florissant School Board has some big decisions to make regarding its 2013-14 budget.

In last week’s meeting, the board of education received information from a report from the district’s budget task force, which is composed of 50 educators, administrators, students, parents and community members, detailing ideas for the next school year budget. The task force and report gave strategies that would save the district approximately $3 million.

The district is already taking action to save costs through a number of steps, which include:

• Shortening summer school and reallocating Title I funds;
• Establishing a foundation that would allow for the district to do a capital campaign and solicit funds from corporate entities and others;
• Freezing book purchases
• Conducting a district-wide energy efficiency audit.

The task force also presented strategies and ideas that could save the district as much as $10 million in the next budget year.

The budget cuts stem from a projected shortfall, which has to do with issues at the local, state and federal level. For example, Boeing’s property valuation decreased, which will result in $1.5 million in tax revenues not being received in the district. Other issues relate to decline in state aid, the rise in health care costs and the decline of residential property in the St. Louis County area.

The Board will be evaluating all ideas circulated by the task force, and district spokesperson Jana Shortt said that nothing is off of the table.

The 2013-14 budget begins July 1.

For other coverage of the Ferguson-Florissant School District budget, check out:

• Ferguson-Florissant Ends 2010-11 in the Black
• Ferguson-Florissant Board Approves Changes to 2012-13 Budget
• Ferguson-Florissant Board Approves 2012-2013 Budget