More money sent to schools

Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2002 | 9:53 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- A legislative committee Tuesday sent an extra $14.5 million to the Clark County School District, but the system still faces a $10 million deficit next fiscal year.

Walt Rulffes, the district's chief financial officer, said the action by the Legislative Interim Finance Committee was a "wonderful supplement" but it doesn't solve the district's financial woes.

The 2001 Legislature set aside $24.5 million to be shared by school districts if their budgets ran short before 2003: $13 million for employee health insurance, $6.5 million for higher-than-expected utility bills and $5 million to make sure programs were not cut.

Clark County administrators had sought $35 million.

Even with the state's $14.5 ,million allocation, Clark County schools still face a $10 million shortfall in their $1.1 billion budget for next year, Rulffes said.

Already $74 million has been shaved from proposed spending, and school officials are considering other, tougher choices, he said.

They include not sending athletic teams to state tournaments and reducing school bus service, so that students living within three miles, not two, will have to walk or get a ride.

"Making these cuts are more difficult," Rulffes said.

The budget is balanced this year, but arbitration over employee wage increases is still pending, he said.

Rulffes said the more than $6 million the school district received for energy and to save programs can be used to reduce its $16.5 million deficit, leaving $10 million to be chopped.

Of the $5 million allocated by the Legislature to save programs, the finance committee approved only $3.2 million to be distributed to six districts. The remaining $1.8 million will be available to districts to apply for.

Clark County will seek another $1.6 million for its transportation needs, Rulffes said. Washoe County School District also said it would come back to the state for more money.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said the Legislature needs "to send a strong message" that the school districts are not to use all of the money this year. The money has to last for two years, he said.