School District Budget to Be $6 Million Less

The school district’s preliminary 1996-97 budget will be about $239 million, officials said this week, down by $6 million from the budget for the current year, which benefited from several one-time cash infusions.

The preliminary budget presented to trustees of the Santa Ana Unified School District for review Tuesday is set for approval June 25.

Trustee Robert W. Balen questioned why a handful of grants, such as the $1-million Safe Schools Program, are disappearing. Staff members explained that they have simply expired.

A staff report noted that no money has been set aside for salary increases above and beyond routine raises based on seniority and continuing education.

The 1996-97 budget proposal does include $8.6 million in reserves--almost double that recommended by the state.

Enrollment at Santa Ana Unified, the largest school district in the county, is projected to increase by 898 students next year to a total enrollment of 50,505. Because the state provides school districts with about $3,000 for each student, the new enrollees will bring in about $2.7 million.

Also Tuesday, the school board approved grant requests for a federally funded job training program, Vision 2020, which arranges student internships with local businesses.