By Kate Robak
Calendar Editor
In preparation for California Governor Jerry Brown’s official state budget revision which will be released in May, the Manhattan Beach Unified School District Board of Trustees is searching for alternative revenue sources to incorporate into its 2013-14 district budget.
Facing a $5 million deficit, the Board initially approved the cut of 24.6 full-time equivalent teaching positions at the March 6 Board meeting. Since then, the Board approved revisions that decrease that amount to 11.2 positions. Before finalizing the 2013-14 budget, MBUSD must wait for the state budget revisions.
“We will have the revised information in the middle of the month,” Deputy Superintendent of Administrative Services Dr. Rick Bagley said. “Then we will begin putting together the 2013-14 budget which I will recommend for approval in June.”
Energy conservation is one way MBUSD is seeking extra revenue. In 2010, MBUSD Energy Management Program introduced a long-term plan to save money through a partnership with Cenergistic, which helps MBUSD watch its energy usage.
“Most of our savings come from simple conservation by many individuals,” MBUSD Energy Education Specialist Chuck Arrasmith said. “Saving energy can be accomplished by every person making sure that energy used is energy needed.”
The Energy Management Program has saved approximately $383,000. This amount covers about 15% of the energy costs used during that amount of time.
“Our cost savings from being energy efficient are not saving us a lot right now,” Bagley said. “However, after a certain time, Cenergistic no longer charges the district for its services, and the full impact of the energy savings becomes ours.”
The current proposed budget plans to end the 2015-16 school year with a balanced budget.
“We have the same plan of cutting $2 million next year,” MBUSD Superintendent Dr. Michael Matthews said. “The next year, about $1 million will be cut and then $600,000 to eliminate our deficit.”
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