The Jordan School District is looking to divert $1.8 million that would have gone to a special reserve account so it can balance its budget for next school year, and taxpayers might have to pony up to pay it back.
"There are only three solutions the board has" to make up for the spending, Superintendent Barry Newbold said. "They've got class size (increases), taxes or cuts. That's it — unless the Legislature comes through with a lot more money."
The school board is keenly aware of that. But Monday, it focused on what it can do to better balance the budget for the coming school year.
The board is looking at $1.8 million that didn't get spent this year to fund employee salary schedules next year.
The money would have gone to an early retirement benefit reserve account, in anticipation of a new law requiring public agencies to build such accounts, said Burke Jolley, deputy superintendent for business services.
As such, the money will have to be replaced in the 2004-05 budget, Newbold said.
The district also lost $1.3 million in federal funding for high-poverty schools. The Title I money, shared by Alta View, Columbia, Heartland, Mountview and Oquirrh elementary schools and Midvale Middle School, was lost mainly because the 2000 Census showed district poverty was less severe than other districts nationwide.
But the board doesn't like the idea of removing funding from schools that sorely need it, especially with new federal rules requiring all students to improve test scores every year. So it huddled to see where it might look to keep the money going — with partial success.
Midvale Middle School's Title I program will be funded with one-time money. But if the board wants the money to continue after the coming year, it will have to raise nearly $368,000 from another source.
The board indicated the remaining Title I teachers have been reassigned, and it wasn't willing to cut deeper into the budget to keep them in the five elementaries.
But about half of the 42 aides, who cost the district about $313,000 in annual salaries, will be spared — for one year.
The board will take some $175,000 from the budget reserve to keep 20 aides in the five elementaries, plus not replace retiring or resigning employees who are working in the district's warehouse.
Again, the $100,000 coming from reserves will have to be replaced. Board member Lynette Phillips suggested the schools secure grants to maintain aides in the future.
Also, the board decided to keep plans to eliminate the district police department, despite pleas from the Utah School Employees Association.
"We've looked at (the association's) issues . . . but still feel this is the best way to go," board president Peggy Jo Kennett said. "We can still provide for the safety and security of the students through the security system we intend to implement" through a private company, which has yet to be selected.
Eliminating the17-member police department would save $600,000.
Utah School Employees Association executive director Mike Hepner could not be reached for comment Monday night.
The board votes on the budget next week.
E-MAIL: jtcook@desnews.com