Cedar Rapids school district's budget proposal looking grim

The Cedar Rapids school board will approve the 2012-13 school year budget in less than six weeks. Members have yet to see any firm numbers, but early reports are grim.

The district's declining enrollment numbers that have taken center stage for the past few months have a trickle-down effect that results in less state funding. At the same time, the number of Cedar Rapids students opting to open enroll in another district has increased. When they go, that money goes with them.

“We have a large number of students who come to our district, but we have an even bigger number who leave our district,” said Steve Graham, the district's executive director of business services.

According to the fall 2011 head count, 541 students are open enrolling in another district, a loss of $3.18 million for the Cedar Rapids district.

Other fiscal year 2013 challenges include zero allowable growth from the state and a mandated 1 percent Iowa Public Employees' Retirement System (IPERS) increase.

Graham said the increase is not part of salary negotiations.

“It is a statutory requirement,” he said.

The increase adds $1.4 million to the district's general fund.

Several unknowns need to be finalized before Graham can present a proposed budget to board members, including wage and benefit settlements.

“We do not know where we are going to be,” Graham said. “Every one of our employee groups is up for negotiation.”

Also not known at this time is the number many elementary schools the district will have next school year. Monroe Early Childhood Center and Polk Elementary School have been identified as schools to close at the end of the current school year. Closing both schools, and repurposing Polk to house district programs currently operating in leased spaces throughout the city, adds up to $1.4 million in savings for the district.

Board members will vote on the proposed closures and boundary changes at the March 12 meeting. A proposed budget will be presented to the school board at that meeting, too, and a public hearing on the budget will be scheduled.

The school board will certify the 2012-13 school year budget at the April 9 meeting.