Things To Know About...

BUDGET

QUESTION: What is the operating budget? What is the capital budget?
ANSWER: The District’s operating budget is used for everyday recurring expenses such as salaries, utilities, transportation, etc. Funds are provided by the state primarily through sales tax and locally through property tax. The capital budget is used to construct, renovate and replace school facilities and to purchase technology, equipment, buses and maintenance trucks. The capital budget is generated primarily through local property taxes that are leveraged to borrow funds for capital projects. The District cannot use capital funds for operating purposes, except as specifically authorized by law.

QUESTION: How much does it cost to educate an individual child in Broward County?
ANSWER: For General Fund only, the cost of educating a student varies depending on the type of services that a child requires. The latest information we have is from the 2008/09 Cost as a Percentage of Revenue Report (CAPOR), distributed by the Department of Education. Expenses range from $5,890 for a full-time equivalent high school vocational student to $34,191 for a severely handicapped child. According to the Summary of Administrative Expenditures Per Unweighted Full Tim Equivalent Student (UFTE) distributed by the Department of Education, the administrative cost per student for Broward County Public Schools is $483.55.

QUESTION: What major changes did the District implement in administration to reduce costs?
ANSWER:  Prior to the 2009/10 school year, Superintendent Notter reduced the District’s area offices from four to three – creating North, Central and South Area offices. The area office reduction was part of an overall consolidation effort, which reduced central administration staff by over 10 percent and produced a savings of more than $9.7 million.

QUESTION: What cost saving budget cuts have been implemented by the District?
ANSWER: Below is a list of some cuts implemented by the District: reduced painting and copying costs; use of video conferencing to reduce travel costs; implemented an energy savings program to reduce electricity cost; installed well water for A/C cooling towers to reduce water; re-negotiated District contracts to reduce purchasing costs; hiring freeze, resulting in 202 vacant department positions as of July 2009; purchasing freeze; elimination of department travel unless approved by ELT member; reduced contract services; reduced consulting services; institution of a four-day summer work week to save electricity; putting teachers previously on special assignment back in the classroom and utilizing District employees as substitute teachers in the classroom.

QUESTION: How do individual schools address impending budget cuts?
ANSWER: The District informs each school as to the amount of funds that will be cut from their upcoming budgets.  The principal will evaluate their specific school and identify where cuts may be implemented. The final cuts are reviewed and approved at area budget/personnel conferences.

QUESTION: Where does the funding come from to operate BECON-TV?
ANSWER: BECON-TV is funded by a combination of District funds and revenue generated by BECON. As a non-commercial television station, BECON is not allowed to sell commercial advertising, but can actively seek sponsorships and underwriting. BECON also markets originally produced programming to other school districts, both nationally and internationally. This additional funding helps to offset operating costs from the District’s General Fund and make improvements to the station, as needed.

QUESTION: Does the capital budget pay outside vendors for emergency repairs to schools and facilities?
ANSWER: The capital budget does not cover repairs, whether done by employees or outside vendors. Repairs are funded by operational (general) funds, per Florida Statute.

QUESTION: Has the District employed a freeze on purchasing of supplies?
ANSWER: On January 1, 2009, the District imposed a purchasing freeze on all non-essential supply items. Further restrictions in supplies purchasing beyond the current level would impact the District’s core services – educating students in a safe learning environment.

QUESTION: Can the School Board vote to raise the millage rate to raise money?
ANSWER: Unlike municipalities and other taxing authorities, the School Board millage rates are governed by the Legislature. While property taxes were increasing every year, the Legislature actually reduced the millage rate that property owners were levied for public education.

QUESTION: What is the difference between surplussing and layoffs?
ANSWER: The District uses surplussing in reference to instructional staff and layoffs in reference to non-instructional staff.

Article 25 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement governs the involuntary transfer of instructional personnel (Surplus) when " a reduction in the number of employees in a school is necessary" (ARTICLE D).  Involuntary transfers from a school are what is commonly referred to as surplus.

Article 26 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement governs the Reduction In Force (Lay-off); when there are insufficient vacancies to place the surplus teachers reduced from the schools, a Reduction In Force is declared and the surplus teachers not placed "bump" a less senior teacher in the District.  The least senior teachers bumped by the more senior surplus teachers then are placed on the "lay-off list" and placed when positions become available in their certification area.

QUESTION: What is the status of stimulus dollars awarded to the District?
ANSWER: The ARRA (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) stimulus funds were awarded to Broward County Public Schools over a two-year period (2009/10 and 2010/11), which saved and/or created approximately 2,600 jobs. There is a probable funding cliff which will affect the District in 2011/12 unless alternative funding sources are identified.

QUESTION: What is the impact of class size reduction?
ANSWER: If a district fails to meet the reduction requirement, a portion of its class size reduction operating categorical fund will be transferred to the district’s class size reduction capital outlay fund. Beginning in the 2005/06 school year, if a district has not complied with the required reduction of class size, it will be required to implement one or more statutorily prescribed measures for class size reduction. Beginning in the 2006/07 school year, if a district has not complied with the required reduction of class size, it forfeits more of its flexibility in the use of class size reduction funding and must implement a constitutional compliance plan developed by the Department of Education until the district class size complies with the constitutional requirements in 2010/11. Districts not in compliance must implement prescribed policies for reducing class size and will be required to implement one of the following policies: year-round schools, rezoning, double sessions or maximizing use of instructional staff.

QUESTION: Does the District anticipate any layoffs after the 2009/10 school year?
ANSWER: Due to the budgetary cuts levied by decision-makers in Tallahassee, Broward County Public Schools anticipates the need for some layoffs prior to the 2010/11 school year. The exact amount of staff that may be impacted by layoff decisions has yet to be determined.

QUESTION: How do parents, teachers, staff or general public find out the exact budgets 0f the schools our children and/or students attend?
ANSWER: A parent or employee may contact their Area Office or their school directly to obtain budget information.