OJAI : School Officials Hope to Ease Deficit

The Ojai Unified School District has projected an estimated budget deficit of almost $200,000 for the 1992-93 school year, but officials said Wednesday that they hope to offset the deficit without making major cuts in spending.

“We are not asking for massive cuts at this point, because we don’t know what is going to happen with state funding,” said Assistant Supt. Leo Molitor. “We are luckily in a better position than many other districts.”

Teachers, administrators, school board members and parents discussed various means of countering the deficit during a budget workshop at a board meeting Tuesday.

Molitor said he is optimistic that most of the shortfalls in the $14-million budget can be covered by carrying over funds not spent this year, although he is preparing several contingency plans for possible cuts in spending.

Transportation is one expense almost certain to be cut, Molitor said, with the planned purchase of a new $36,000 school bus likely to be canceled. “That is one thing we probably can’t do, even though we need it,” Molitor said.

Other areas where cuts may be made are in the conference budget and some special programs, Molitor said. “Since we’re not really in terrible shape, we’re not talking about any massive layoffs or anything like that,” he said.

The district will present a finalized budget at the June 29 board meeting, Molitor said.