Parkland Has Tentative Budget Timeline

Parkland School District officials distributed a tentative budget timeline for the 2012-2013 school year on Monday to the school board’s Personnel and Finance Committee.

“We’re looking at everything with the idea that we need to have a balanced budget, and it’s not going to be an easy task,” Superintendent Richard Sniscak told the committee.

Sniscak said he anticipates the district will face the same as it did when preparing this year's budget.

Like school districts elsewhere, Parkland has been dealing with state funding cuts and lower commercial property assessments. The district 3.8 percent for the 2011-2012 school year, eliminated 60 positions, about half through attrition, and cut its behind-the-wheel driver education program to balance the budget. Parkland administrators also took a pay freeze. 

Also, teachers are in the last year of a five-year contract. negotiations are under way. With the contract nearing its end, officials expect several teachers to retire by the end of the school year.

Sniscak said he has met with some federal and state legislators to express concerns about diminishing revenue streams. Parkland School Board member Roberta Marcus said she also has met with some state legislators to express concerns.

Some key dates in Parkland’s tentative budget timeline are as follows:

* Jan. 24, adoption of preliminary budget

* Jan. 30, deadline to submit any proposed tax increase to the state Department of Education.

* May 15, adoption of proposed final budget for 2012-2013;

* June 19, adoption of final budget for 2012-2013.