School Board Finds Another $3 Million in Budget Cuts

The Manatee County School board trimmed another $3 million from its overall budget, but is unsure of what it will do with the savings: pay down the debt or cut the proposed millage rate.

While the board agreed on $3 million — half of that in easy trims from the capital budget — members couldn't agree on another $3 million in proposed cuts from the operating budget and never came close to the $14 million needed to avoid an increase in the millage rate.

The first $3 million came from the capital budget, including the school district's contingency fund for emergencies and $500,000 to build a new track for But board member Karen Carpenter, who voted against an increase in the proposed millage rate earlier this month, wanted even more cuts from the capital budget.

When it came down to cutting another $3 million from the operating budget, including for technology in the classroom, several school board members, including Carpenter, balked. The proposed cuts to the classroom were off limits.

The technology budget had already been cut from $10 million to $3.7 million. And while some board members wanted tighter controls on the inventory of laptops and other equipment, they didn't want to cut important tools from the classrooms.

If the board puts the approved cuts toward decreasing the millage rate, it would decrease the average tax bill by $20, said school superintendent Tim McGonegal. With the cuts, the district could reduce the tax rate for capital improvements and debt service from 1.5 mills to 1.375 mills.

But the board could decide to pay $3 million on its debt instead, which could help improve the school board's bond rating, but would leave the tax rate unchanged.

McGonegal told the board that he would provide them with a memo laying out each option and its benefits. He also said he would put together an analysis that included doing both, cutting the proposed tax rate slightly and paying off some debt.

Board member Julie Aranibar was obviously dissatisfied with the minimal cuts to the budget. She wanted to avoid any increase to the current millage rate, but the $3 million in cuts will just put a small dent in the proposed increase.

Aranibar said the superintendent should have supplied the board with better budget information earlier in the year. Thursday's proposal, she said, should have offered deeper cuts that did not affect the classroom or teachers. Still, she said, she was prepared to accept the entire $6 million in cuts that McGonegal suggested. But she was alone in that.

It was clear that she wanted to see more cuts in the administrative staff and she said she had expected deep cuts to the school district's health care costs. The district has been negotiating a new health care plan but doesn't expect to see any changes before next year.

Board Chairman Robert Gause said all of those issues should have come up in May when the board was setting the budget, rather than in August when the board is preparing for a final public hearing. He did say that the budget process needs to be improved and that board members need more information earlier in the year.

While McGonegal said his staff had prepared "a mountain of information this year" and that there was some information that wasn't available before May, he did acknowledge that the budgeting process could be improved.

Board member Barbara Harvey said the whole process has been difficult and draining for the staff, the board and the community.

"I think we're all frustrated," Harvey said. "I am and have been for quite some time. The trust level has dropped in the community. It has affected me spiritually and emotionally."