PLACENTIA : School District Sees Bleak Budget Year

Despite a more optimistic outlook for school funding in Gov. Pete Wilson’s proposed budget, Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District officials see another bleak budget year that could mean more layoffs and cuts in programs.

School officials say the district is likely to receive only about $29,000 in additional state funding, while costs will increase at least $2.5 million. Those bleak figures do not include a 7% pay hike guaranteed most teachers in the 1992-93 year, said Kim Stallings, the assistant superintendent for administrative services.

To balance this year’s $92-million budget, the district was forced to eliminate 144 full-time positions, including nurses, first-grade reading instructors, music teachers, speech therapists, media clerks and instructional aides. Additional layoffs and program cuts for the 1992-93 year are “a definite possibility,” Stallings said.

Still, the governor’s proposal for the coming year could be the best that elementary and secondary education can expect, Stallings said. That is in sharp contrast to last year, when Wilson’s 1991-92 spending plan was sharply criticized by educators and called a “worst-case scenario” before it went to lawmakers for debate.

“In this case, we don’t think that it can get better,” Stallings said. “In most ways, it can only get worse.”

Stallings said the governor’s budget makes many “major assumptions” that may be too optimistic, such as the amount for lottery revenue. In addition, the governor will face a tough battle persuading lawmakers to deplete reserves, rollback welfare benefits and cut a renter’s tax credit.

“We expect a lot of change, and we don’t know at all if this is what we will end up with,” Stallings said. “Any change probably will hurt us.”

With the proposal, the Placentia-Yorba Linda district can expect a $1.34-per-student cost-of-living increase but little else. All told, that would bring in an additional $29,000 to Placentia-Yorba Linda, Stallings said.

“We don’t see $29,000 as a bonanza to our district,” he said.

At least one trustee indicated that another bleak year could force the district to seek alternative funding from local sources.

“Communities throughout the state may have to start looking for alternative local support for schools,” Trustee William Kielty said.