My article this month is about the Governor’s Recommended 2011 Budget and the Impact is will have in all districts throughout the state. The total reduction is approx. $58 million dollars. The state is saying they are not raising taxes, but in reality, in order for the districts to compensate for the decreased state funding, the districts will have to pass on the reductions through an increase in the match tax. Let me explain what a match tax is. A Match Tax is what the state requires a district to generate, if they want to receive state funds for certain purposes, so if the state is giving the district $500,000, the state requires the district to tax district residents to make up the $500,000 the district needs to get these state funds. This is charged through your school tax bill.

Let me enumerate the ways the state is reducing funding.

1 - In Fiscal Year 2011, the state is shifting the cost of Transportation from 100% State disbursement to a 75% state, 25% district cost. The state is allowing the districts to make up this money by charging a match tax. The impact of this alone is $20.38 million dollars.
2 - Another reduction in Pupil Transportation has the state reducing the additional maintenance payments for maintaining buses by 50% for all routes exceeding 30 miles. The state evidently figures that the cost of maintaining a bus for safety purposes goes down by 50% if it goes more than 30 miles, which I really don’t understand. The districts do not get enough now and the state is going to reduce this. – Cost - $3.33 million
3 – Eliminating the criminal background reimbursements for checking bus drivers – again they are transferring these costs to the districts. – Cost - $55,000
4 - Minor Cap Reduction – the state currently gives districts money to try to keep up with repairs on school buildings. This is a pitiful amount normally and they are reducing this by 50% - Cost – 4.9 million
5 – Division II funding – Delaware’s funding is based on Unit Count. Units are earned by each district based on the number of students that are counted on September 30th. The number of students in a unit depends on grade level and the disability classification of a student. Division I funding is salaries and other employment costs, Division II funding supports fixed costs associated with classroom facilities and is split into 2 parts – Energy and other costs. Districts earn funding based on the Unit count. Division III funding is Equalization funding which is meant to equalize the differences in the ability to raise funds. Division II funding reflects a reduction of $1.47 million
6 – In Fiscal year 2010 – the state eliminated the funding for the following Grants: Technology Block Grant, Math and Reading Specialists, Student Success Block Grants (Extra Time, Discipline, Etc), Academic Excellence, Limited English Proficiency and some of the Division II allocation. These grants were funded in 2010 through the Federal Stimulus Funding – Educational Stabilization program because the State continued to permit districts to match fund these grants. In fiscal year 2011, the ability to match fund will be eliminated. Districts will see a Reduction of $11 million dollars
6 – There will be a Federal Stabilization Reduction of $18.7 million.
There are other small reductions but in Total the state is reducing Education funding by $58 million dollars.

We need everyone, all PTA Presidents, teams and members to contact your legislator to voice your displeasure about these cuts. Pupil Transportation and Safety of the buses, repairing our buildings, cutting classroom funding, Math and Reading Specialists, Academic Excellence, Discipline, etc. are all going to have a devastating impact on our districts, classrooms and children. We need to raise our voices in unison to stop these drastic cuts. To find out whom your legislator is go to http://legis.delaware.gov where there is a link at the bottom left of the page.

As always, thank you for all you do for Delaware’s parents and children.

Bud Mullin