WBL will try levy again next year

White Bear Lake School District officials are looking for ways to cut $2.5 million from next year's budget.

Administration presented the school board four scenarios Dec. 11, based on whether cuts are made for next year or put off until the following year, and whether a levy referendum passes next November. In all scenarios, budget reductions will be needed in 2008-09.

The board opted to start cutting next year and set $2.5 million, about 3 percent of estimated expenses, as the target amount to cut.

The board directed district administrators to prepare recommendations, which the board will review and decide upon in upcoming months.

Superintendent Ted Blaesing said the recommendations will be "educationally sound," "fiscally prudent," "transparent" and "reversible to the best extent possible."

The referendum was defeated by 2 percent in November, but the district will continue to receive local levy funds through the end of next year. The referendum would have increased the levy funds for next year and the six years following.

District officials indicated they will try again next November to renew and increase the levy.

The existing levy is expiring. That means, if a referendum fails again, the district will lose $7 million in funding - about 10 percent of its general fund revenues.

The scenarios

The Dec. 11 board decision to make cuts next year narrows the scenarios down to two.

If the levy fails, the district estimates it would have to make a projected $10 million in cuts in 2008-09, $2 million in 2009-10 and $1.5 million in 2010-11.

If the levy passes, about $1.25 million in cuts would be required in 2008-09 and none in the following two years.

The third and fourth scenarios, had the board opted not to make cuts next year, are as follows:

If the levy passed, an estimated $2.5 million in cuts would be needed in 2008-09 and none the following years.

If the levy failed, $15 million would need to be cut in 2007-08 and another $2 million in 2010-11.

Just guessing

The figures are very preliminary - the scenarios are based on several estimates or assumptions - thus the amount of reductions might change.

Among the assumptions: state general per-pupil funding will increase by 4 percent annually, special education will increase by 3 percent and employee health care costs will increase by 10 percent or less.

The scenarios also include increasing the levy by more than was asked for this year. The district sought about $1,300 per pupil unit in November. The scenarios use about $1,400 per unit.

Again, that figure is just an estimate. The board will vote on a levy amount later next year.

Kristine Goodrich can be reached at 651-407-1233 or vadnaisheightspress@sherbtel.net.

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