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St. Helens SD 502 leaders outline budget shortfall and say staff reductions, furlough days likely
Summary
Superintendent Karen Gray told the St. Helens School District board that a steep budget shortfall driven by rising PERS costs and temporary pandemic-era funding will require staff reductions and furlough days; details and bargaining with unions are pending.
Superintendent Karen Gray told the St. Helens School District 502 board that the district is facing a significant budget shortfall that will require reductions in staff and school days and that the district is preparing to negotiate those changes with employee unions.
Gray said the primary drivers are a steep rise in employer retirement (PERS) charges and the end of one-time pandemic-era funds (ESSER) that had supported added positions. "Because our payroll has gotten larger and larger, the side account that offset our PERS bill is being exhausted," Gray said, describing a jump in the district's PERS rate that she said rose from about 3.9% to about 14.9% and that this has created…
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