A gap of $24 million in the Syracuse City School district budget might not sound good. But Chief Financial Officer Suzanne Slack says it’s actually smaller than past years.
"We usually have between a $30 and $40 million gap each year that we work to close through the budget process. When we came in under 30 we were a little bit excited about that. It's still a problem, but to know that it's going in the right direction was a bit of a surprise."
Slack credits funding increases from the state legislature for the dwindling gap. As of now, the district plans to use $12 million from reserves and $12 million in anticipated state aid to plug this year's deficit. The board of education is combing through the budget and seeking public input at a second hearing Thursday. Slack says it’s a collaborative effort within the district and with state lawmakers to drive the dollars where they’re needed most.
"For students with special needs, students that don't speak English as their first language and the robust career and technical education programs that we've got now in this city, we need additional funding to be able to continue those programs to help kids graduate."
But Slack says the $437 million budget faces several pressure points. For example, she says, a one year, $10 million community schools grant isn’t slated to continue next year.
"So it's very difficult to ramp up a program for one year and then scramble with no funding. So we have people from the community working in our schools who we are trying to get additional funding to keep them there to continue to provide those services."
Slack says of growing concern on their budget is the expansion of charter schools. The district has asked the state to cap student enrollment at 10 percent, a request that’s likely to be denied. She says the roughly 20 percent enrollment in Rochester and Buffalo charter schools has hurt.
"When that happens you're going to close buildings, you're going to close sections in different schools, you're going to lay off teachers. We don't want to get to that point here in Syracuse. It's difficult in Buffalo and Rochester. Buffalo has closed several schools."
Slack says charter schools get the same amount of state aid but only have to meet a fraction of the regulations required of public schools.
The next public hearing on the budget will be held Thursday at 4:30 at the district’s central offices.