The Salem-Keizer School Board will vote Tuesday night on a $1.5 billion district budget that’s unlikely to become reality when school kicks off in September.
The budget, developed before coronavirus-related shutdowns pummeled state revenue, contains none of the cuts that will likely be needed in the coming year.
The district’s budget committee approved the 233 page document at a May 26 meeting.
Superintendent Christy Perry has pressed ahead with a pre-COVID plan for school spending because the impacts to the state school fund likely won’t be spelled out until a special legislative session that’s expected this summer.
A state revenue forecast released May 20 predicted the fund would be about $2.7 billion short next year, but the legislature could mitigate that shortfall by seeking deeper cuts to other areas of state government or tapping rainy day funds.
By law, the district must have a budget in place by June 30. Perry has said at previous meetings district leaders will consider needed cuts when they have a clearer picture of funding, and will seek public input during the process.
Salem-Keizer has also furloughed nearly all employees on Fridays to save about $10 million through the end of July.
Board members will hold a virtual public hearing on the budget before voting Tuesday night.
They will also consider a proclamation for LGBTQ Pride Month and hear reports on distance learning and the district’s performance indicators.
Members of the public can submit email or video testimony ahead of the 6 p.m. meeting by emailing [email protected] or filling out this form to call into the meeting. The meeting will be broadcast live on YouTube and CCTV channel 21 in English, with a Spanish translation posted online the following day.
School board members: Marty Heyen, Jesse Lippold, Sheronne Blasi, Kathy Goss, Danielle Bethell, Paul Kyllo and Satya Chandragiri.
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Contact reporter Rachel Alexander: [email protected] or 503-575-1241.
Rachel Alexander is Salem Reporter’s managing editor. She joined Salem Reporter when it was founded in 2018 and covers city news, education, nonprofits and a little bit of everything else. She’s been a journalist in Oregon and Washington for a decade. Outside of work, she’s a skater and board member with Salem’s Cherry City Roller Derby and can often be found with her nose buried in a book.
