Background:
Tacoma Public Schools faces a potential estimated $12 million budget deficit over the next four to five years depending on state funding.
The state’s nearly $1 billion shortfall in the current biennium – due in large part to the economic recession that has plagued the country – has caused legislators to consider dramatic cuts to a wide range of programs, including K-12 education. Recently, the Supreme Court ruled that it is the state’s primary duty to provide adequate funding for education and the Legislature has responded to their duty to fund education. However, because we have lost nearly $26 million in state revenues over the last three years and because we have been using our savings account to fund expenses that the state didn’t provide funding for, we are still faced with reductions in our future.
Tacoma Public Schools created this tool to find out what you value most that the district provides. We want to know what programs and services provided by the district are most important to you and the broader community.
The District values your input. Ultimately, District leaders and the Board of Directors will make the final decisions on how to deal with the district’s budget deficits, including which programs and services to reduce or eliminate and which revenues to increase, if any. District decisions will remain true to our core mission and strategic goals.
Below, you will make tough decisions to balance our School District’s anticipated budget deficits over the next four to five years. The services and programs identified below impact the children, their families, the employees of the district and our community.
Instructions:
Simply check the boxes on the budget calculator to balance the District’s budget. When you have closed the $12 million budget gap, share your plan online.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Options for program cuts are at the top of the list. Scroll to the bottom of the list for revenue-generating options. Please review all the options prior to selecting your choices since the calculator will assume you have completed the exercise once you reach the goal of $12 million.