LAS CRUCES—Las Cruces Public Schools Superintendent Stan Rounds will explain the proposed 2016/17 school district budget during a town hall meeting on Monday, May 23. The meeting begins at 5:00 p.m. in the LCPS Administration Building Board Room, 505 S. Main, Loretto Towne Centre. The Superintendent’s presentation will be also be web-streamed online at www.LCPS.TV, said Jo Galvan, district spokesperson.
The operational budget, the portion that is state-funded, is estimated at $187.2 million for next fiscal year. Superintendent Stan Rounds has long been discussing with the School Board that without a reduction in staff, the budget cannot be balanced. Rounds will explain how down-sizing the school-based staff from elementary through high school will help balance the budget. Also possible is a four percent cut to school and administrative department budgets for items such as supplies and materials.
Galvan said residents are encouraged to ask questions and give their opinions about the budget by attending the town hall meeting or e-mailing questions in advance to the Superintendent at opinions@lcps.net. Budget documents are online for the public’s review at http://lcps.k12.nm.us/2016/05/18/201617-draft-lcps-budget/ .
In order to determine whether employee salaries will be affected, the Board must first approve the 2016/17 budget. Terry Dean, LCPS Chief Financial Officer, said all staff, with the exception of cafeteria employees, were furloughed this fiscal year for three days, based on a shortage of funding. All paychecks were reduced by three days’ worth of pay. He said restoring salaries is something that will be decided during negotiations with the two unions that represent the majority of staff — NEA-Las Cruces and CSEC-LC — after the new budget is approved.
The School Board will take action on the budget at its meeting on Tuesday, May 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the LCPS Board Room. The budget must also get approval from the state Public Education Department, Galvan added.