Cary Dist. 26 looking to cut at least $2.1 mil. from budget

In an effort to trim about $5.5 million from its budget over the next four years, Cary Elementary District 26 leaders are taking an aggressive approach on the front end.

The district’s finance committee on Tuesday reviewed a list of proposed reductions that could save the district about $3.4 million in 2012.

To reach that level of savings, the district is asking for $900,000 in reductions to areas of operations and purchased services, as well as $2.5 million in employee wage and benefit concessions.

The first part of the proposal, know as Tier I reductions, would eliminate 8½ full-time positions, which would affect class sizes across the district.

In a memo to the finance committee, District 26 Superintendent Brian Coleman said creating the list was a difficult task.

“No one wants to make reductions to programs and services that affect students and staff,” Coleman said. “Unfortunately, these reductions will need to be made in order to balance the district’s budget and continue to move the district forward toward financial recovery.”

While the first $900,000 in reductions in Tier I will go ahead regardless, the district is cognizant that the concessions may become a sticking point. Should negotiations fail on the $2.5 million in wage and benefit concessions, the district would implement Tier II of the reductions in order to meet the minimum goal of $2.1 million in savings for the 2012 budget.

“The goal has always been $2.1 million,” finance committee member Kevin Carrick said. “The more we are able to garner on the front, the more likely we’ll be able to reach the $5.5 million over the next four years.”

Reductions in Tier II include reducing another eight full-time positions and the closing of Prairie Hill Elementary School, which would net the district $1.2 million in savings.

Finance committee chairman Scott Coffey also addressed residents’ concerns that the district still needs to make cuts despite approving $15 million in tax anticipation warrants last month. He said the intent was not to spend on day-to-day expenses.

“The district didn’t have enough money in the bank to meet payroll and expenses,” Coffey said. “The money is going into the bank so that we never have to do short-term borrowing ever again.”