Colfax school budget gap now said down to $100,000

Preliminary copies of the Colfax School District’s 2010-2011 budget will be available to the public next week, Superintendent Michael Morgan said Tuesday.

Morgan said the school board is planning to hold a public hearing on the budget during its July 12 meeting.

The district’s fiscal year begins Sept. 1, but its budget must be submitted to the state superintendent’s office by July 31.

For the 2009-2010 school year, the district’s budget was $6,549,262.

Falling enrollment numbers and state revenues brought on by the slumping economy mean the school will have to fund next year with a reduction of about $300,000 in revenue from the state, Morgan said.

Staff departures have cut the school district’s spending by about $200,000 for next year. School board members will have to decide whether to tap reserves or cut programs to close the $100,000 gap.

Some hope remains the gap will be closed by funding from the state, as federal funding aimed at keeping teachers in districts could be headed Washington’s way.

Morgan, though, said that program is intended to stave off massive teacher layoffs in midwest cities like Detroit and Chicago, where schools have been crippled by severely depressed economies.

Tacoma, Yakima and southwest Washington have felt similar effects, which could reduce the chances Colfax receives federal dollars, Morgan said.