Strategic Planning Portal
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State of the District: Finance
Implementation of Key Initiatives
- Parcel tax was overwhelmingly supported and passed by the community in November 2007 and May 2011
- Lafayette Partners in Education (LPIE) evolved from Lafayette Arts and Science Foundation (LASF) to become the education foundation of the District
- Closer collaboration with the parent community organizations, LPIE (formerly LASF), Rapport (organization of parent club officers, LPIE, and district representatives) and the district was attained
- Well-planned and well-presented budget reduction process during the last four (4) years of State budget cuts allowed the district to maintain a strong financial position
- Streamlined and implemented efficiencies within district operations: eliminated reprographics services (≈$90K); Adjusted various staff work year (≈$50K-$60K)
- Generated additional revenues from facilities use to offset some of the revenue losses: rented facilities to two (2) summer camps at $67,000
- Installed solar panels at the school to reduce district utilities expenses: estimated annual savings at $40,000-$50,000
How do we measure success?
- Strong and high student achievement scores notwithstanding less funding and higher class sizes
- Improved collaboration with the community and parent clubs to maximize financial resources
- Maintaining a fiscally and financially sound budget throughout the years
- County Office of Education approved district’s adopted budgets
- Earned positive certification of the district’s interim reports
- Received audit reports with no major findings, exceptions, and recommendations
- Met all federal and state reporting deadlines and requirements
- Continued non-adversarial and collaborative negotiations with bargaining units absent salary raises in several years and implementation of furlough days in one year
What are the challenges?
- Persistent and increasing revenue cuts from the State
- Measure B & Measure J Parcel Tax will expire on June 30, 2015 – current amount $518.00 (currently $4.4 million or 16% of revenues budget)
- Maintaining programs amid shrinking funds
- Providing a salary raise for district staff
- Increasing costs of health and welfare benefits
What are the next steps?
- Begin work on renewing the parcel taxes (Measure J and Measure B)
- Continue to review programs, processes and procedures for added efficiencies and savings
- Closely monitor district budget to insure fiscal and financial sustainability despite of ongoing State funding cuts
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