Jamestown school board sees deficit spending ahead

The Jamestown Public School Board took a good hard look at the projected fiscal situation for the 2012-2013 school year and beyond — and found red ink on Thursday.

At the annual finance retreat the board learned of a projected loss in federal dollars and increasing expenses that point to deficit spending for 2012-2013 and beyond if changes aren’t made.

“As you can see, to maintain the district at the current size we’re going to be spending a million dollars more than were taking in,” said Greg Allen, School Board president.

The dollars available, or lack thereof, were calculated expenses that could change based on a number of factors.

One major factor will be on the June ballot.

“This budget is all blown out of the water if Measure 2 passes,” said Sally Ost, business manager.

Measure 2 would abolish state property taxes. This means if the measure passes, local funding decisions would be in the hands of state officials.

Regardless of Measure 2, deficit spending is something the noard has faced before, most recently prior to 2002 up through 2006.

“We got some real serious issues to address and I think we can be concerned about those things, but we have to be concerned about how we’re going to keep this district going forward,” Allen said. “That’s going to be a tough, tough thing to do.”

JPS benefited from federal stimulus dollars and one-time state dollars, which are currently no longer available.

The question is how and whether or not to continue these programs and positions.

Sun reporter Ben Rodgers can be reached at 701-952-8455 or by email at brodgers@jamestownsun.com

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