Ouachita schools look at possible state cuts

Juanita Duke, director of business for the Ouachita Parish School Board, outlined the effect that state budget cuts could have on the district's budgets for this year and next year on Tuesday at a finance committee meeting.

For this year's budget, Duke said the district is planning a $1.18 million reduction in revenue.

A $1.3 million reduction in revenue from Minimum Foundation Program funds is expected because the district lost students between the Oct. 1 count and the Feb. 1 count.

One-time funds from a 2015 Legislative Appropriation Bill has been paid to the board except for $4,083, which Duke said is no longer covered.

An insurance premium increase that took effect Jan. 1 is expected to cost an additional $460,000 compared to what was budgeted.

The district should receive one-time revenue from insurance proceeds from the 2014 storm for a benefit of $597,000, which helps mitigate the expected expenses.

Education on chopping block - $44 million to be cut

For the 2016-17 budget, Duke presented two alternatives. Neither plan assumes any change in student numbers or staffing. A bill that won approval in Louisiana's House Appropriations Committee last week would cut public elementary and secondary education $44 million and affect this year and next year's budgets.

The first plan lays out changes that the board is relatively certain of, such as insurance premium adjustments, changes in textbooks and technology needs and the loss of one-time state funding. This plan assumes a total deduction of $1.2 million.

The second plan is based on the first, and examines the worst-case scenario of pending legislation at the state level.  An estimate of losses stands at $4 million, including the $1.2 million deduction laid out in the first estimated budget. That includes changes to the business inventory tax plan currently in place, a reduction to the MFP amount per student and a loss of state preschool grants. Duke and Superintendent Don Coker said there's no no need to panic.

Board member Scott Robinson asked about using maintenance and operations funds for some items to reduce stress on the general fund. Duke said those items would have to be one-time costs and be a temporary fix.

Coker said the district is looking at cost-cutting options.

State budget crisis could affect Monroe schools

The committee also was updated on the board's investment and financial reports, and Duke presented information from the 2014-15 audit.

The next finance committee meeting will be May 17 at 9 a.m.