Palo Alto school district eyes budget cuts, but some ask for more

Unfortunately some Board Members and the Superintendent are stalling, and keeping some financial trickery in their "proposed" solution to the budget deficit.

I expect to get my ballot in early October. I urge all voters to NOT VOTE for any incumbent (Heidi Emberling or Melissa Batten Caswell) if the deficit is not solved without the use of any financial trickery. And please tell your neighbors and other school parents.

The deficit gets bigger and the trustees except for Dauber and candidate Collins continue to want to spend reserves and borrow money to cover it. It's ironic that the same board members who want to tell the teachers how to teach aren't interested in doing their actual jobs. Balancing the budget without gimmicks is the job, folks. Get it done. Those are public dollars.

One of the wealthiest districts anywhere, yet so badly mismanaged that the administrators are planning budget cuts--AGAIN!!!

One quick solution is to lay off HALF of the overpaid and top-heavy administrators. There are too many chiefs and not enough Indians, to quote a cliche.

Cut the salaries by 20% of the remaining administrators. It was only a few years ago that many of us paeans had to take 20-30% pay cuts due to a financial crisis.

McGee should take a pay cut as well-- or be dismissed. He is the boss, he was supposed to oversee everything, but he was negligent in his overpaid job.

Crisis solved, voila!

The Weekly reported on July 15 that the district budget shortfall was estimated at $3.7 million.

On August 10, the Weekly reported a shortfall of an estimated $3.3 million.

Now, today, the estimate is $4.2 million.

It seems we ought to be very cautious, taking every estimate with a healthy grain of salt, and planning for worst-case scenarios.

I see by the Weekly that on July 15th the budget shortfall for the district was estimated at $3.7 million.

Then on August 10th the shortfall was estimated at $3.3 million.

Now, today, the estimate is at $4.2 million.

It seems that we ought to take every estimate with a healthy grain of salt, anticipate worst-case developments, be humble, plan wisely.

THEY screw up big time-- but OUR children are to be punished for it!

Good job , Max, Scott and Cronies!

It seems that everything, except that ill advised raise, is up for discussion. It's pretty clear where Churchill's priorities are.

"Chief Budget Officer Cathy Mak also provided on Tuesday adjusted five-year budget projections that use an even lower property-tax growth estimate that came in just last month."

So, this does not appear it will be a one-time shortfall. Despite this,
"
Camille Townsend, however, cautioned, "you can't do things too fast that you throw your world into chaos."

"I'm not interested in that," she added. "I’m into thoughtful, deliberate, over-time, intentional work."
"
Am sure glad she is not running again this year.
What needs to happen for some folk to take the budget issue seriously?

"Chief Budget Officer Cathy Mak also provided on Tuesday adjusted five-year budget projections that use an even lower property-tax growth estimate that came in just last month."

So, this does not appear it will be a one-time shortfall. Despite this,
"
Camille Townsend, however, cautioned, "you can't do things too fast that you throw your world into chaos."

"I'm not interested in that," she added. "I’m into thoughtful, deliberate, over-time, intentional work."
"
Am sure glad she is not running again this year.
What needs to happen for some folk to take the budget issue seriously?

Raising rental fees at the schools also hurts our community. This is not a hurt-free proposal. The small organizations that provide afterschool enrichment and such have tight budgets themselves and are providing services to the community. They will have to charge more. This is an ugly way to make up for foolish fiscal oversight at the district level.

So sorry to see that there is still a lack of responsibility for creating the problem. High level Churchill raises should be rescinded.