Economy Downturn Leads to Budget Cuts

The worst national economic crisis since the Great Depression has finally arrived at Utah's borders and is seeping into our state. In September the Utah State Legislature cut $100 Million from ongoing state agency budgets. Public Education's budget was held harmless, but just for this year. We are hearing now that all state agencies, including public education, can expect a 2-5% (maybe as high as 10%) cut from ongoing budgets for Fiscal Year 2010. The Utah State Board of Education has made the following suggestions:

1. Last program in, first out. (Get rid of the newest programs first)
2. Use the $100 Million one-time unappropriated set aside first.
3. Cut the Early Childhood Learning and Evaluation program $3.5.
4. Cut the Merit Pay program $20 Million. (Both 3 and 4 were in the omnibus bill SB2)
5. Freeze Charter School expansion.
6. Cut the USTAR program $6.9 Million (Omnibus bill)
7. Cut the extended year for special educators program $2.9 Million (Omnibus bill)
8. Cut the Math/Science Salary Supplement program $4.7 Million (Omnibus bill)

As you can see it will be a difficult legislative session and we will need a unified UEA membership to persuade the state to protect Utah's public schools.

To enter the BLOG CONTEST email me at rick@ogdenweber.org and use the word "Budget".

Thanks Rick