When Governor Otter announced a 2% holdback for education in this year’s
budget, it caused concern for districts across the state. Below is a brief explanation of the current status of the Meadows
Valley District and a few comments about next year’s budget.
Good News This Year
Given the unsteady nature of the economy, the district prepared a very conservative
budget for this year. We also built in a contingency amount that would allow us to cover unexpected incidents such as utility
rate increases, revenue holdbacks, and legal settlements. If there are no additional surprises and we adhere to our planned
expenditures, the district will be able to cover the holdback without making program reductions this year.
Next Year
The economic downturn continues to impact the district. The preliminary projected
enrollment for Meadows Valley School District next year shows us holding steady. However, the Governor is talking about implementing
a 7%-10% reduction in funding. As state revenues decline, we will need to review all of our programs and spending with a critical
eye. It will become increasingly important for us to evaluate the cost and benefits of everything we do. Solving the upcoming
challenges will require productive conversations at the state and local level. We look forward to working with patrons and
legislators to get through these difficult times.
