Woodland Hills School District OKs budget

Jessica Turnbull

Jun. 30, 2009 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- Despite several residents voicing their opposition, the Woodland Hills School Board voted 6-3 Monday night to pass a $88.8 million budget with a 1-mill tax increase for the 2009-10 school year.

William Driscoll, Colleen Filiak and Robert Tomasic cast dissenting votes.

The board voted 8-0 June 16 to nix a $91 million budget that included a 1.33-mill tax increase. The new budget set the property tax rate at 25.65 mills for the 12 communities in the district. The owner of a $100,000 home will pay an extra $100 in taxes.

School administrators cut staff costs by $156,000 by eliminating one Spanish teacher at the Woodland Hills Academy, two paraprofessional positions that were double counted, one tech-ed teacher and one half-time business-ed teacher.

About $350,000 of transportation costs were trimmed by reducing the number of different school start times for students, increasing walkers, putting more high school students on Port Authority buses and increasing shared riding with other districts.

The administration cut its charter school payments to save $500,000. It cut $252,387 by nixing personnel raises and a proposal for an assistant superintendent.

Parent Tara Reis, 37, of Churchill said she wants new programs such as the reconfiguration of elementary schools to K-6 and extending days at the high school, but as a homeowner doesn't want a tax increase.

"The ideal for me is to maintain all the programs that have been promised without raising taxes. ... Is that reasonable? Probably not," she said.

Filiak said she wanted more cuts made after the administration found many places to take away funding.

"I think this still has too much padding on it," she said as the crowd of about 50 people applauded.

Newstex ID: KRTB-0288-36114932