Déjà Vu for Capo's Budget Next Year

EDITOR'S NOTE: See related stories,  and .

Just as the closes a potential with comes news that officials may have to do it all over again next year.

Except next time, officials won't be able to shrink the school year like they're proposing this year.

The school district posted its proposed budget (see ) on its website Friday afternoon. It plans for as many as $51 million in cuts, depending on whether .

Included in the 2012-13 budget is a fiscal solvency statement that must be filed with the Orange County Department of Education. It says, in part:

Due to California’s sluggish economy recovery, the uncertain outcome of the governor’s November tax initiative, the potential implementation of the weighted student funding formula and proposed implementation of trigger reductions for 2012-13, it is recognized that, if necessary, the school district plans to implement between $31 million and $52.5 million in ongoing budget reductions in 2013-14.

The multiyear projections show another $51 million needed in 2014-15. However, these figures do not include what future negotiated contracts with the various employee unions may look like.

The cutbacks included in  are only good for a one-year term.

“Negotiated settlements were reached for 2012-13 to reduce salaries and increase class size. These settlements were for a period of one year. Adjustments reflect ending of the agreement pending new negotiations,” says a note in a report that accompanies the 2012-13 budget, scheduled for Wednesday’s Board of Trustees meeting.

However, the district will not be able to once again draw from the furlough-day well.

According to the Orange County Department of Education, in light of of the economic crisis in school funding and in the event the tax initiative doesn't pass, the state will allow school districts to shorten the school year for the next two school years, but they can only use 15 extra days in total.

"This means that any school district would be able to use any combination of days in 2012-13 and 2013-14, but the total of the days in those two years cannot exceed 15 days (i.e.: eight days in 2012-2013 and seven days in 2013-2014 for a total of 15 days over the two-year period), in addition to current law which already allows the school year to be reduced by up to five days each year," reads an advisory the county sent local school districts.

"Once the 15 days have been used for the two-year period of 2012-13 and 2013-14, this provision is eliminated and the statutes will revert back to current law of five days per year (175-day year)," it states.

CUSD is proposing to use all 15 unpaid furlough days in one year.

Because any new agreements for 2013-14 and 2014-15 are unknown, the district is currently showing salaries and benefits comprising more than the total expected revenues for 2013-14 (see accompanying graph).

The board meets at 7 p.m. Wednesday at the district headquarters, 33122 Valle Road in San Juan Capistrano.