HUNTINGTON BEACH : Menu of District Cuts Is Proposed

A committee of parents, teachers and other employees in the Huntington Beach City School District presented a menu of proposed spending cuts to the Board of Trustees this week to help bridge a projected $1.1-million deficit.

The trustees are scheduled to cut up to $550,000 from the 1991-92 budget at their July 16 meeting. The board plans to cover the balance of the shortfall this year by dipping into district reserves and, a year from now, making further cuts to replenish that account.

The committee divided its proposed reductions into four groups, according to how much members believe each item would affect students.

The proposals, totaling $731,385, include combining two administrative positions into a single job, laying off four night custodians and some part-time clerks, delaying purchases of new library books for a year, slashing capital spending in half and whittling 10% from instructional supplies costs. The expected reductions would be added to $57,000 in summer-spending cuts the board made earlier this month before approving the tentative budget.

Other top-priority reductions proposed include cutting back on maintenance of district buildings and grounds, reducing training for teachers and aides, spending 20% less on legal services, cutting district business travel by 25% and trimming office supplies.

In addition, the board majority this week agreed to consider requiring teachers who retire early to work as substitutes to make up for time owed to the district. The committee recommended that trustees consider that option only as a last resort.

The district’s deficit, caused largely by the state budget crisis, represents more than 5% of the $21.5-million tentative budget approved for 1991-92.

The financial picture could still change this summer, depending on the final state budget and a district proposal to charge property owners to help defray capital and maintenance costs. The district by forming a maintenance assessment district with three neighboring school districts could save about $350,000, officials project. That proposal will be considered at a joint public hearing next month.

Regardless, the board is expected to dip into reserves to balance the final budget for the coming year, which trustees are scheduled to approve in September. Officials say the district can afford to draw upon reserves this year but it could not afford another withdrawal next year.