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Schools

New Haven Officials Plan for Worst in Budget Crisis

If both the local parcel tax and statewide tax revenue extensions fail to pass, New Haven schools would be left in a "catastrophic" state, officials said. One possible cut: closing the entire adult education program.

officials are planning ahead in case local and state funding measures are not approved by voters in coming months. The worst-case scenario would leave the district in more than a budget crunch—it would be a fiscal crash that threatens to severely cut staff and vital services, district officials say.

If neither measure—a local parcel tax and an extension of three state taxes —passes, the school district will face a deficit of more than $10.2 million dollars, officials said at a Feb. 15 school board meeting.

The NHUSD Board of Education met Tuesday night to discuss various financial scenarios the district could face in the 2011-2012 fiscal year.  

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There are four possible budget scenarios involving the two critical tax proposals, according to district spokesman Rick La Plante.

“The reality is if both the parcel tax and the tax revenue extension don’t pass, it’s going to be catastrophic,” La Plante said.   

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At the local level is , which would add a tax of $180 per parcel per year (or about $15 per month) to property tax bills in the New Haven school district. The proposal, which includes exemptions for seniors and residents with disabilities, would generate about $3 million a year for the next four years.

The Measure B ballot will be voted on by mail beginning April 4. Voters must turn in their marked ballots by mail or in person to the Registrar of Voters by 8 p.m. on May 3. 

On the state level, legislators must still decide whether to allow voters to consider the fate of higher vehicle fees and sales and income taxes, all of which are slated to expire on June 30. Gov. Jerry Brown has said that that extending these taxes will offset the $12 billion in cuts that affect mostly schools and welfare programs. He wants the state legislature to put the measure on a June ballot.

With its financial future in question, the New Haven school district must envision possible financial scenarios. Because the deadline for issuing lay-off notices to staff is March 15, many district employees may receive pink slips in March, although they could end up keeping their jobs if the taxes are approved in May and June. 

If the state and local proposals pass, the district will be able to rehire any staff laid off it or reinstitute some of or all the services lost due to the budget cuts, according to Akur Varadarajan, chief business officer for NHUSD. 

While district officials hope for the best, they understand the financial burdens families face in the current economy.

“These are hard times, people are trying to save their houses,” said board member Jonas Dino about people’s reluctance to extend state taxes. “But, by not doing so, it will be devastating [to the district]. We’ll go in to a downward spiral if we cut services that are important to function.”

On the chopping block for a $10 million deficit are various services and programs, including the entire adult education program, which offers Union City adults a chance to earn their high school diplomas or GEDs, receive job training, take English, driver’s education and parenting classes, and more.  

In addition, $400,000 would be cut from both the instructional materials fund and mental health services for students with disabilities. 

The budget cuts would result in a loss of $349 per student, according to Varadarajan. 

The Board of Education will meet again on March 15 to discuss what Varadarajan said will be “a more conservative budget.”

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