School district to face budget shortfall

The Bigfork School District is looking at its biggest deficit in recent memory for its 2010-2011 budget — a shortfall of approximately $297,000.

"In my 21 years here, I have not seen a deficit this size," Eda Taylor, the district's business manager, told the school board Wednesday.

As a result, she said that shortfall couldn't be made up by making many minor cuts. It will likely require major changes, Taylor said.

"The bottom line is there will be program and staff changes," board chair Maureen Averill said.

The district received budget numbers from the Montana Office of Public Instruction at the beginning of the month. Those show an increase of approximately $49,000 in the projected elementary school budget and a decrease of $89,000 in the high school budget.

But, with additional expenditures expected for the 2010-2011 school year, including contractual staff pay increases and liability insurance increases, the deficits will be much higher.

The elementary school will be facing a deficit of approximately $135,000 and the high school a deficit or $162,000. The biggest shortfall Averill said she could remember was a $70,000 deficit at the high school.

Most schools in the state are facing similar and worse budget situations. Kalispell schools are facing a much larger deficit of $820,000 between its elementary and high school.

Read more about the district's budget situation and plans in the March 18 Bigfork Eagle.