School and town officials bracing for massive cuts in state funding

Windsor school and municipal leaders are bracing for the
possible effects of the state’s $35 billion budget crisis, which
could cost the town millions of dollars in state funds when Gov.
Gray Davis turns to cities and counties to balance the state
budget. But both town and school officials are operating in the
dark until the governor releases his proposed mid-year cuts later
this month.
Various proposals are being discussed by state leaders,
including a reduction in school funding that could cost the Windsor
Unified School District as much as $1.5 million, according to
Denise Whitaker, the district’s business manager.
In another scenario, the cuts could be in the range of $400,000,
or the state could lift the categorical restrictions on funds and
let the district sort out the mess. “We’ve heard things that are
all over the map,” she said. But the $1.5 million is a worst-case
scenario at this point.
“That is the maximum we have heard,” said Whitaker. “That is
right about five percent of our budget. That’s a huge amount of
money.”
The district has instructed all school site and district
administrators “to evaluate all spending and not approve anything
that is not essential,” said Whitaker.
In addition, all positions that become available are being
closely evaluated. “If we don’t absolutely need to, we won’t fill
it,” said Whitaker.
Town Manager Paul Berlant said the Town Council will discuss the
state budget crisis when it starts its own budget review during its
Jan. 15 meeting.
Cities are anticipating a state raid on the vehicle license
fees, which could cost Windsor as much as $1 million. “At this
point we don’t know if it is going to be taken,” said Berlant,
“everything is on the table in Sacramento … if the state picks our
pocket for for three quarters of a million dollars, that is really
heavy hit for us. It will mean substantial cuts in some form of
services.”