Politics & Government
State Budget Cuts Leave Schools with 50% Less Transportation Funding
Transportation funding was the hardest hit in schools' budgets as the state's revenue shortfall triggered mid-year cuts.
School districts faced another round of funding cuts, this time mid-year, as the state fell $2.2 billion short of the predicted $4 billion in revenue. a 50 percent cut to save the state $248 million, Gov. Jerry Brown announced in December.
K-12 education funding was the last area Gov. Jerry Brown intended to cut despite having to reduce the state’s deficit. If the state had met its revenue requirement, no cuts would have been made. If the state accrued $3 billion, the state would have reduced funding for UC schools, Cal State Universities, community colleges, K-12 transportation and child care. But because actual revenues came up $2.2 billion less than predicted, K-12 additionally faced cuts.
The , which received more than $319,000 in state special education transportation funding for the 2010-11 school year, will have just under $168,000 for the upcoming year.
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School districts must finalize their budgets by June 30, and still adhere to a federal legal obligation from Assembly Bill 114. The bill requires that schools provide transportation for the district’s students, amongst other services, despite funding cuts, according to Raul Parungao, Redwood City School District Chief Business Official.
Officials from the South San Francisco Unified School District couldn't be immediately reached for comment, but officials from other districts have indicated it may be necessary to reach into the general fund to make up the cuts.