NEWPORT BEACH/ COSTA MESA : School Board to Hear Comments on Budget
After wrestling with spending cuts forced by the collapse of Orange County’s investment pool, Newport-Mesa Unified School District trustees tonight will propose an $81.8-million budget for the coming fiscal year.
The board will outline its fiscal plan at the meeting and hear public comment on setting priorities for restoring money to 20 areas that took deep cuts. For example, to help balance the budget, the board eliminated psychologists in elementary schools, closed out five administrative positions and ended school bus service for ninth through 12th graders and athletic events.
To help cover its losses, the board also drew $1.8 million from a district fund for economic uncertainties.
Under state law, school districts must maintain that fund at 3% of their total budgets. But Finance Director Michael Fine said state and county officials make allowances for districts to dip into the fund in the short term, provided that plans are in place to replenish it.
In Newport-Mesa, the money to restore that fund and fill other gaps is projected to come largely from the sale of Bear Street School.
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