By Juan Montoya
As the board of trustees of the Brownsville Independent School District slogs through the 2010 budget process, one thing has become abundantly clear: the past two y
ears have brought the district a deficit of more than $35 million over that period.
ears have brought the district a deficit of more than $35 million over that period.And now, even before the process is done, mid-managers have gotten the word from up above: Raises? Forgeddaboutit!
Working budget papers acquired by this blog indicate that the district seriously miscalculated on several budget items, notably personnel salaries and construction costs.
District planners projected costs for salaries for instruction (teachers, aides, etc.) to total $199 million in 2009. The actual amount spent turned out to be $206 million – $7 million more than the projected amount.
The figures for construction of facilities are even more egregious. Working budget papers indicate that the district miscalculated the costs of the new construction by $92 million which is listed as a deficiency on page 31 (Exhibit C-3). Additionally, district planners estimated that they would spend $2.6 million in 2009 for facilities acquisition and construction and the actual amount totals $24.8 million.
Those items alone indicate that the miscalculations cost the district about $114 million more than projected.
"The word has come down already to forget about any pay raises for the staff," said a district department head. "School districts all over the state and country are facing the same problems."
Yet, the same records indicate that until the 2007 budget, the BISD actually had a $7.2 million surplus heading into 2008.
In 2008, projected revenues of $393 million did not materialize and the district collected only $387 million. At the same time, the district spent $395 million, a deficit of some $8 million.
The 2009 budget outlook is even worse. The district projected collecting $390 million but collected only $384 million. At the same time it spent $411 million a staggering $27 million cost overrun in operations.
"The district is going to have to do something drastic," said a retired employee from the finance department. "Either they're going to have to stop construction of schools, or costs are going to have to be trimmed from somewhere. The state won't allow for this to continue this way."
7 comments:
Why don't they start cutting down on the salaries of the "top-heavy" administration? As Caty Preses-Garcia asked them at a recent meeting, who is covering for the vacant slots in the administrative level? Mr. Springston was quick to provide names of administrators who have taken over the duties of those vacant slots. Caty than suggests that if the administrators are able to do such, why not just leave it like that and forget about hiring 8 more administrators at the Glass Palace? You know, the more I see Caty in action, the more I am assured that we are being taken care of by her. They criticize her for putting on so many agenda items but they are necessary questions and not like the others that worry about who is or is not getting to go on a chess trip. We've got more serious issues to look at and it seems that Caty is the only one doing such. Now the board wants to formulate a new policy to forbid the board members from putting agenda items in for questioning. I wonder which of the board members is behind this policy. I give you 3 guesses and the first 2 don't count. Go get them Caty! Salaries for teacher should be the first thing on the budget, for what will we do if all the teachers leave for greener pastures?
TEA SHOULD TAKE OVER, BEFORE BISD GOES BANKRUPT.
There are few greener pastures right now for teachers. BISD teachers will be lucky if they get by with out layoffs. Most districts the size of BISD are facing layoffs. I doubt if it is as bad a mentioned. The biggest problem is the state mandated teacher raise that was payed for with stimulus money as required by the state. This money won't be available this year but the raises won't be taken away. Even after Dr. Sauceda BISD was not bankrupt. They are now where near a position where TEA should or will take over. If that were to happen everyone would be unhappy as it is a very drastic situation and pay raises would be only a dream. Some Texas schools are even cutting salaries so BISD is not in bad shape.
They are not cutting salaries yet, but I'm sure if some people had their way, they would do that. That's what most people fear, above everything.
BISD HAD BEEN ON THE BLACK MORE OFTEN,
AND RECENTLY JUST STARTED GETTING
IN TROUBLE AND BEING ON THE RED.
Rumor is they want to remove the mandatory step raises or have the teachers pitch in for their health insurance. I say buy out all the old teachers to encourage retirement and hire new ones at a lower cost. There are too many dinosaurs in BISD. Get some fresh, cheaper blood.
I second the motion, get rid of the old, haggard dinosaurs and hire young motivated people with new ideas and that will get things done.
OR gives them more responsibilities, make them earned the hundred thousands of dollars they get paid, way over paid.
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