The early version of Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools' budget for next year has plenty of moving pieces, as always.
The 3 percent raises interim Superintendent Hugh Hattabaugh proposed earlier remain. But instead of the $25 million to $30 million he said he's need from Mecklenburg County commissioners, he's seeking $18.6 million for a 2 percent bump, with the remaining 1 percent coming from $7.5 million he can "redirect" from other parts of the budget.
Rising costs for 2,000 more CMS students and about 1,000 more Mecklenburg charter students (CMS must pass county money to those independent public schools) would bump the budget up by $13.1 million even without the raises, the plan indicates. Hattabaugh and Chief Financial Officer Sheila Shirley also presented $4.7 million for new efforts. An earlier $1 million plan to expand Communities In Schools was scaled back to $100,000; CMS officials said the nonprofit dropout-prevention group will ask county commissioners to directly fund the expansion, rather than having the money go through CMS.
Some of the cuts and shuffles include a $1.3 million reduction in central offices that eliminates 12 jobs and a $3.9 million reduction that Shirley said came from reducing the salary averages used in budgeting to match actual salaries. Almost $3 million is freed up because a federal performance-pay pilot program expires next year; this year CMS had to use $2.9 million in county money to match the federal grant.
Some teacher jobs will be eliminated, but Hattabaugh said they're either one-year contracts or people who can almost certainly find jobs elsewhere. That means no layoffs looming, for the first spring since 2008.
Hattabaugh noted that other districts may be going through layoff trauma this year as federal stimulus money runs out. He said CMS avoided that by spending most of the money on one-time improvements, such as adding wireless internet access and fixing up schools, rather than paying for jobs that would disappear when the short-term aid went away.
Hattabaugh may still revise the plan before it's formally presented March 13. And board members can still make their own proposals. One that's sure to be closely watched: Hattabaugh is sticking with the four-tier "bell schedule" that saves money on busing but has left some families frustrated by late start and dismissal times. Board members could override him, but they'd have to find a way to offset about $600,000 in transportation savings.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
CMS budget cuts, shifts and adds
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48 comments:
Add these to the growing daily list of why I don't trust CMS:
1) "...with the remaining 1 percent coming from $7.5 million he can "redirect" from other parts of the budget."
Does anyone at CMS understand how shady this looks? Where exactly was this $7.5 million hiding before?
2) "CMS officials said the nonprofit dropout-prevention group will ask county commissioners to directly fund the expansion, rather than having the money go through CMS."
That's right... let the BOCC deal with the public backlash over increasing funding to a group that hasn't gathered meaningful data to prove their worth.
3) "...a $3.9 million reduction that Shirley said came from reducing the salary averages used in budgeting to match actual salaries."
OMG... are you serious? So how many years of budgets have had this inflated salary number? Isn't another name for this "lying about the necessary funding needed?"
4) Hattabaugh is sticking with the four-tier "bell schedule" that saves money on busing but has left some families frustrated by late start and dismissal times.
Thanks for listening, Mr. Hattabaugh. Was the Board listening? I guess time will tell.
All of this can be redirected form the FOCUS schools which will show no loss of academic performance due to it. Wind down Bright Beginnings to the federal and state directed funding levels. Cut WWS by 1/3 this year, then 1/2 the following year till it is gone.
Return reasonable funding to suburban schools to get their classroom sizes under 35 students.
So, adding the 4th bus schedule back will only cost $600k? We all were told it would save $6.3 million. What gives? Oh excuse me, CMS data interpretation.
Eliminate Bright Beginnings and take that $10 million from the County and use it for ALL students and teachers.
Gotta have the guts to flip the switch on it Hugh.
Gorman had it and the BOE capitualted to the County and of course we all know how that worked out.
Hey, Christine?
Hugh went to the Bev Perdue School Of Finding Money Laying Around.
Perdue says her administration has found $9.3 million to help at-risk 4-year-olds attend classes in the program.
Please explain the "performance pay" that has eluded most of the teachers in the suburbs who actually show an increase in student achievment?
"Moving Pieces" just like the chairs on the Titanic.
So now the raise will average $100 per teacher? We are owed way more than that from the unpaid performance bonus of the ABC era.The lack of keeping up with inflation and reduction of benefits equals a poorer standard of living and a shortage of quality teachers in the future.
Why is nobody asking the most important question about teacher increases? 3 % does what? So a 11 year teacher being paid as a 5 year teacher because of no increases over the years will never be brought current? Really!!
Don't forget the five days of Common Bore, another pox upon the whipping marks left by Thom and his boys.
2%! Does not do a damn thing. It is eaten up in increased health care benefit costs and extra working days or furloughs or anything else they want to do to contracts even after they have been signed.
Keep your 2% and give me free valium for the extra twenty kids!
Project LIFT - you can't fix stupid
Looks like it pays to be a School Resource Officer.Nice raise!They also are paid $30 per hour with a 3 hour minimum at all athletic events.
Has anyone considered that teachers have received "DEMOTIONS" as a result of the 45 minutes extra time, 5 extra teaching days, and decreaased benefits? Isn't this illegal? We are not allowed to be demoted unless it is proven that we have violated one of the state policies! Where is Luke when we need him!!
Leave the debt crisis in Europe out of this and learn how to balance your own budget.
C'mon Bolyn,
Vilma can just e-mail a staff written tome to the esteemed new leader. That or ask Ms. Henry what to say or say it for her at the Broad party.
JUST A SMALL POINT NOT COVERED IN THE STORY.
Tuesday’s budget workshop was about the changes of over last year’s budget. It was well presented. What didn’t go well were the questions afterwards.
Mr. Davis had a series of thoughts that culminated in asking the Chair what communications she had had with the County on making sure that as in previous years the staff had gotten with the County Manager’s office and the Chair had gotten with the BOCC.
After a very vague response from the Chair, Mr. Davis restated the question. The Chair’s response was enlightening. She had briefly attended the BOCC retreat. Also, she had information from media reports.
My response! Thank goodness the Observer sends reporters to all the Board meetings. Else, the BOCC and County Manager’s office might not be aware that CMS is working on a budget.
Bolyn McClung
Pineville
Mr. McClung,
Yes, if that's what happened with the Chair's answers, I agree with you that it's not appropriate. And that needs to change ASAP.
When you stated the information was "well presented," did you read my comments above? It's nice to be well-presented... but I care more about the content, and right now, CMS looks foolish. How do you lose and then miraculously 'find' $7.5 million dollars. It's.plain.irresponsible.and.shady.
And then to be using averages in a report, instead of actuals? Was this point noted in a footnote anywhere? Do you know the answer? If there wasn't a footnote, that's equal to lying again. And why is no one taking them to task about it? Why isn't the Board up in arms? Why isn't the press up in arms? Why isn't the public up in arms about all this? I am!
There are so many assumptions used in these reports, it's no wonder no one knows what's going on.
Strive to be transparent about our planning, vetting our position
with other sources, and our priorities
Perhaps the Chair, the rest of the Board, and the Staff should have read their own report...
Has anyone on the Board or on Staff discussed the rising cost of healthcare with the State? Has anyone ever proposed that the State take a hard look at their health care plan? I cannot believe that their current costs cannot be lowered with another provider. Imagine how much money could be saved State-wide if someone looked at these costs and got competitive bids!
And while I appreciate all the analysis on the economy, when, if at all, does CMS ever look internally for places to become more efficient and competitive and find ways to do things cheaper? I haven't found anything yet to show that CMS is trying to lower their own costs in a meaningful way... Can anyone correct me on that?
For "redirections," I'd love to see a breakdown of the pot of money that these "redirections" are coming from... how much more money is out there, and why is it sitting there? Anyone know?
What is the $200,000 for 'Project LIFT support' for????
Communities in Schools - Cost Model Pricing Adjustment of $100,000? Why is CMS giving them ANY more money?
Where are the 995 more charter students coming from? To my knowledge, the only other Mecklenburg County area charter school that might be new for next year is Corvian Community School, and they're projecting 88 students in their first year (assuming they get the charter). Every other charter in the County (CSD, Lake Norman Charter, etc.) isn't growing that big... so where are these kids coming from? Anyone know?
$800,000 reduction in EC funding? I thought we were trying to keep money in the classrooms with the children... that program is already underfunded...
Ann, If what Bolyn says is true, shouldn't the public be informed that the chair is not doing much to engage with the county commission--should at least be made aware of her response to Eric's questions.
Bolyn's account of that exchange is accurate, but I don't think that's all Ellis-Stewart is doing to communicate about the budget. She's just created an intergovernmental relations committee of the board that's designed to deal with such issues, and there are also meetings between Hugh Hattabaugh and Harry Jones. Not saying there are no problems, but she is doing more than just reading the O (not that that isn't enough!).
Christine, I want the kind of coffee you're drinking to get revved up in the morning!
....and there are also meetings between Hugh Hattabaugh and Harry Jones.
I learned a long time ago to never mix ammonia and bleach.
In other headlines from the Observer....
Mecklenburg County commissioners aren't likely to approve $25 million to $30 million for across-the-board raises at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, commissioners' Chairman Harold Cogdell said in a letter to the CMS board.
Ann,
No coffee... McD's sweet tea :-)
REPLY TO CHRISTINE MAST.
“Well presented.” So you wish a clarification of that phrase.
Seldom is comment required on the presentation of the books. Numbers are numbers. But the order of the presentations, the brevity of words and the speakers understanding of the level of knowledge of her board contributed to a clear and concise presentation. “Well presented.”
The CMS board chair has many strong points. Probably tops on her list is the ability to grasp complex issues. I was alarmed at her weak off-the-cuff response to Eric’s question and re-questioning. That comment was heard by the public too!
Had I been a teacher hearing that part about the media being the source of communications, I would have been concerned that the raise I’d waited on for three years had just vanished in a pile of week old fish wrappers.
Bolyn McClung
Pineville
Ah, Bolyn, it will be a sad day when there will no longer be a printed version to wrap those fish in, which is on the horizon.
I just looked at the headline of the WSJ that was slid under my hotel room door about an hour ago and the headline is "Romney Gains Momentum".
The problem with that is I knew it about 8 hours earlier because of TV and the internet.
I'll take that paper and stick it on top of the one from yesterday and leave it for housekeeping.
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools would like $215,000 from the county to hire two multimedia specialists and get the technology to "be an advocate for our message."
Maybe the BOE chair will get her news faster if this happens.
Wiley,
Did you see all the postings on Facebook last night from CMS about the TEP presentation? My entire news feed was covered with "one-liners" from the meeting. Too bad when I read my news feed from most current on down, everything ends up being backwards... ie I read a response from someone before the question gets asked...
Christine...
I don't do facebook.
5 area superintendents still employed.
Humongous PR Dept budget increase from several years ago still in place.
Why can't these be cut?
2 multimedia specialist for $215,000! Waste of money.
The bus numbers are funny too. Save $600,000? I thought CMS told us earlier that the extra 45 mins a day (which all ES teachers hate) and the bell schedule changes would save $6.3 million (maybe some of that money can go to those teachers working the extra 45 mins?). Which is it CMS?
If CMS decreased the size of the bus fleet (why so many buses only half full on a good day, especially at high school?), just think how many millions could be saved??
I would like to know if the previous chair shared such information as he knew it - on how the various staffs and groups met to plan things as in past years - with the new chair. NOT if the new chair asked him about the process but about if he volunteered the information as a part of a cohesive team that is (supposed to be) the BOE.
It would seem his question was a snarky, backhanded and not very honorable attempt to show up the new chair.
Little E, please get over the fact you were replaced and work together with the new majority for the good of all. If not, please expect to be voted out next election.
12:37, I think the $6 million-plus in savings from the later schedule happened in the current year and is not itemized as a new savings for 2012-13. The $600,000 will come from changing hours at 10 additional schools next year: http://www.cms.k12.nc.us/News/Pages/CMSannounces2012-2013bellschedulesforschools.aspx
RESPONSE TO CHRISTINE’S QUESTION:
“….when, if at all, does CMS ever look internally for places to become more efficient and competitive and find ways to do things cheaper?”
I certainly wouldn’t want to insult you by asking where have you been; but, where have you been?
Six years ago I heard a CMS construction manager say, “Every project begins with thinking how it can be done for less.” This same manager said that everyday the question of lowering cost is almost as highly ranked as safety.”
Recently I was told that the projects funded under the 2007 bonds have been completed at $30M less than planned. That didn’t happen through magic. That is a 10% reduction. That’s two new elementary schools that could be built if needed.
Three years ago and then for every year since cost have been driven out of the system. Tuesday night Hugh Hattabaugh said it was $220M over three years and it was beginning to affect student growth and achievement. That figure included redirections. The CMS budget is now on par with the 2007-2008 budget but with 6000+ more students.
I still have up on my website, CMSdollars.com that ominous chart calling for $100M in reductions. You know, some of those cuts happened.
Tuesday night the CFO noted the budget can’t be in the red and at the same time gave evidence from the NC Fiscal Research Division of the General Assembly that the state ain’t out of the woods yet. Somebody at CMS will be reducing something!
So, in answer to your question: everyday!
Bolyn McClung
Pineville
Bolyn..
What do you show as the 2007/08 budget number versus 2011/12?
Is it operating budget or the operating budget plus capital replacement, school lunch and after school programs?
According to numbers I've looked at, the 2007/2008 operating budget was $1,041,554,000, while the current budget is $1,170,000,000.
Bolyn, most of what you're referring to is considered capital cost, correct? I'm talking about the operating budget.
Doesn't it bother you that they miraculously 'found' over $7 million dollars, especially when they've gotten wind from the County that they may not get ANY increase over last year?
Doesn't it bother you that average salary numbers have been used to calculate budgeted salaries, instead of actual salary numbers, especially when there's such a large difference between the two figures?
These items alone make me wonder what other money is hiding under some rocks... don't you wonder that, too?
And I've been doing some research on the charter school pass-thru amounts, and still cannot reconcile back to that 900+ increase in students. Can you? I'll be sending that question to Ms. Shirley.
Maybe the $7,000,000. comes from planned PR Dept & asst superintendent reductions?
Ha Ha! ;-)
Christine, you are correct in what Bolyn wrote applied to construction projects only. My complaint then is if they saved enough for 2 elementary schools, why did everyone have to jump through so many hoops to get Stumpton ES (to relieve Torrence Creek ES) into the building list? And the correct answer is because it is a suburban school.
Christine,
That $800k EC reduction is going into EC offices in the new unexplainable renovations at the old Smith Language Academy on Tyvola. Got to love CMS with its not good enough for students so renovate for the administrators philosophy.
The $7,000,000 slushy could be the year end handouts CMS shuffles around. Much of which come from salaries for jobs that CMS never hires. Just another creative finance way of supporting the myth CMS is underfunded, while cooking the books. Budget a number of jobs never filled and then spend the public's funds as you wish with no accountability to the Board. Somebody should ask for an accounting of where last year's year end slush puppy funds went. Many millions spent outside of the publicly discussed and voted on budget. Sounds like a great Board of Education report for one of the Broad embeds. Eric, be nice and share the annual responsibilities and their timing with the new chair. Coach Joe was a gentleman about it and you should be too.
"BolynMcClung said...
Recently I was told that the projects funded under the 2007 bonds have been completed at $30M less than planned. That didn’t happen through magic. That is a 10% reduction. That’s two new elementary schools that could be built if needed."
I would love to know where this $30M went because to my knowledge CMS never told the County they wouldn't need those funds. Also what schools in particular did they save costs on because to my knowledge they usually come in over budget.
The economy tanking may have saved a bit. $30,000,000 seems like too much. Closing schools like Davidson IB would add to the CMS booty. Is there an official accounting of these funds for CMBOE and BOCC to include in their leadership activities and decision making? Is transparency part of the equation on excess bond funds?
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