The proposed budget for the next school year has been reviewed by the Citizen Budget Committee and recommended for approval by the School Board. The School Board will meet in a special session on June 23 to vote.

The proposed budget includes cuts and reductions in programs and services: $8.6 million cuts from central services, $9 million reduction in reserves, and $4.5 million from instructional services.

In addition, $5 million was pending as we worked with our employee associations. A few things have been done since the proposed budget was released on May 27.

Salem-Keizer Association of Classified Employees members approved a memorandum of understanding that includes lowering the cost of living increase and taking unpaid leave. The Salem-Keizer Education Association members are currently reviewing a proposed memorandum. And school/district administrators had already agreed early in the year to give up their cost of living increase. All of these add up to just over $4 million in cuts.

We're still about $900,000 short and plan to find the remainder through vacant licensed positions and licensed staff attrition to prevent anyone from losing their job.

Again, this is a budget based on a best estimate of State funding. The State Legislature is still determining the K-12 education funding level. Once that number is known, we will update the School Board and this might mean an adjustment to our budget. However, State law requires us to adopt a budget by June 30 of each year so that is why we are moving forward based on a best estimate of State funding.

If you would like to review the proposed budget presentation, please visit our web site at http://www.salemkeizer.org/inside24j/special-edition-may-28-2009/superintendents-2009-budget-message