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Garfield Public School District approves preliminary budget with 5% tax-levy increase; public raises charter and special-education concerns
Summary
The Garfield Board of Education voted to approve resolution 5.1 to advance a preliminary budget that includes a proposed 5% tax-levy increase, estimated savings from about 60 fewer positions and a $3.5 million fund-balance transfer; residents pressed the board on charter-school tuition, rising out-of-district special-education placements and transparency.
The Garfield Public School District board voted to advance a preliminary budget that includes a proposed 5% increase in the school tax levy and cost-saving measures as administrators warned of mounting pressure from rising health, energy and special-education costs.
Dr. Tomko, the district superintendent, told the board and the public the proposed budget relies on a 6% increase in state aid and a combination of the 5% levy and roughly 60 fewer positions—projected to save about $7 million—to balance revenues and expenditures. He also described a $3.5 million fund-balance transfer that shifts funds into the next school year and said the district projects approximately a $3 million surplus and a $1 million capital maintenance reserve.
"The district is $17,768,000 under adequacy," Tomko said, citing Department of Education figures he said underscore a multi-year goal to narrow funding gaps with other…
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