The deficit for Los Angeles Unified School District has grown to $557 million and the district faces layoffs of up to 7,500 employees if it doesn’t receive money from three funding sources, officials said.
An outline of the 2012-13 financial plan set for a vote next Tuesday shows the district will have only enough state revenue to fund core K-12 programs, along with district facilities and critical health and safety services.
LAUSD needs funding from a statewide tax package proposed by Gov. Jerry Brown that has to be approved by voters to even maintain core programs, according to a statement from officials.
If it doesn’t receive the hoped for funding, the district will cut adult and early childhood education, after-school and arts programs, and its All District Honor Marching Band.
LAUSD voters would have to approve a $300-per-parcel tax on properties in order for the district to maintain supplemental programs. The school board is expected to vote to place the measure on November’s ballot.
The district would also need funding from another tax initiative on the November ballot or savings through concessions from its labor unions.
LAUSD, which encompasses 710 square miles, is the country’s second largest public school district after New York City’s school system and had 919,900 students enrolled in all programs, including adult education, in fiscal 2011. It has $11.4 billion in general obligation bond debt, according to the superintendent’s budget for fiscal 2011-2012.
