Budgets and Projections 2005-06

1. The state currently projects about a 2 billion dollar shortfall
2. NSSD has cut 1.5 million this year, mostly from Support Services and Central Office
3. Currently the district probably needs to have a budget that is $4 million dollars less than this year to meet projected income
4. The state legislature is meeting and making new laws, adjusting programs, negotiating a budget so the district has to be ready to adjust to these changes.
5. Puget Sound Superintendents have created a group called SAVE to strongly communicate that the state is underfunding basic education. (in other words, every district is having the budget challenges that Northshore is facing) The state is paying for only 70% of busing costs, 75% of special education costs which means that we have to make up the difference out of our local levy which is really mean to support the extra programs such as activities, clubs, buses, special classes, open libraries etc...

Bottom line, I expect...

1. Class sizes to inch up
2. NERC budgets to go down 5-10% (based on our current spending we will be able to absorb this without great pain but it does get tighter and inflation continue to eat at us)
3. District support services continue to be reduced which means that we have less help when something is broken or needs maintainence or new curriculum materials are needed or...