Budget Outlook for 2012-2013

APS is planning for a $5.3 million shortfall but is committed to keeping cuts away from the classroom.

March 9, 2012

APS is planning for a budget shortfall of about $5.3 million for the 2012-2013 school year primarily due to increasing costs and declining enrollment.  

The budget approved by the state Legislature in February increases operational funding for public education slightly, the first increase in four years.

However, the increase won't be enough for APS to cover about $8.6 million in anticipated cost increases for such things as utilities, employee benefits, textbooks and pay increases for teachers who complete the requirements to move from one salary level to the next.

Also, APS enrollment declined slightly -- by about 780 students. Most of those students went to state charter schools. 

The net result is expected to be a $5.3 million budget shortfall for APS. The district is committed to trimming the budget without impacting the classroom or students.

This is the fourth consecutive year the APS operational budget has been cut for a total of about $105 million. 

APS Chief Financial Officer Don Moya has told the APS Board of Education that the budget process is fluid and numbers will continue to change. The board will be updated on a regular basis.

The 2012-2013 budget will be finalized in late May and submitted to the state Public Education Department in June.