Dist. 26 considers another $2 million in budget cuts

Cary Elementary District 26 will explore closing a second school as it works to cut $2 million from its 2011-12 budget.

"That's going to be tough to come up with unless you consolidate students in a building." Superintendent Brian Coleman said Monday. "We're going to evaluate closing a school."

The district closed Maplewood School this year because of declining enrollment, which was part of $6.6 million in cuts, including 80 teacher layoffs and the elimination of art, music and physical education. The district expects its enrollment to decline by more than 300 students through the 2014-15 school year.

The district is also considering going to referendum in the fall. The district finance committee on Monday recommended asking taxpayers to approve $15 million in working cash bonds. Issuing the bonds, according to district officials, would allow the district to restore positive fund balances and end the need for short-term borrowing. However, District 26 would still have to cut $4 million from its budget over the next three years.

"We're not looking at restoring programs in the near future," Director of Finance and Operations T. Ferrier said. "We're looking at cutting more."

The bonds would raise the tax rate by 2.5 cents in 2012 and by 2 cents in 2013 and 2014. That would amount to $85 in additional taxes over the next five years for the owner of a $300,000 home the district estimates.

Administration previously presented three referendum options that would cost the same homeowner between $166 and $1,300 in additional taxes over the next four years.

The full board is expected to vote on whether to go to referendum on July 19.