03.22.10: More Good News on State General Fund Revenues
By David Walrath
The Department of Finance has confirmed the State Controller’s estimate on February’s State General Fund revenues.
By the end of February, the state revenues were up almost $2 billion above the estimates that were made in the Governor’s January budget proposal. Before the increased revenues, the state had owed schools significantly more than $1 billion for 2009-2010 and 2010-11. The increase in 2009-10 revenues also should increase the state’s obligation to Proposition 98. If the revenues trend continues, schools could be owed as much as $2.3 billion more in the current year; and $2.5 billion more in the budget year.
While these are optimistic projections at this time, the revenue trend is continuing in the correct direction. The Governor’s budget as introduced in January is appearing less likely to be the final budget adopted later this year.
SSDA will provide up-to-date revenue and budget projections at Dave Walrath’s workshop during the Annual Conference in Sacramento on April 14-16, 2010. Click here for more information on workshops and registration.
SSDA will hold a Legislative Advocacy Day on April 14, 2010 for school districts attending the Annual Conference. The briefings for the Legislative Advocacy Day will be in the morning and afternoon of April 14. The primary topic for Legislative Advocacy Day will be Senate Bill 1136 (Cox) which would provide revenue limit deferral relief for very small school districts. This bill will be the vehicle for discussing how the current deferrals and cuts in state funding to schools has affected your school district and why funding needs to be maintained or increased.
Lastly, school districts should be prepared to discuss how the Governor’s Budget proposal - $2.4 billion in cuts – would affect their school district; particularly the $1.5 billion in revenue limit cuts, as well as cuts in services from county offices of education. To register for the free advocacy day briefing materials, please contact Dave Walrath at dwalrath@m-w-h.com and indicate your interest in participating in the Legislative Advocacy Day.
