Timothy Rahill, chief business officer for the Benicia Unified School District, painted a stark near-term future for local schools at the board meeting this week.

“We’re facing an ongoing operating deficit of $1.9 million,” he said Thursday.

The governor is making efforts to minimize the blow to education with a proposed budget that spares schools from cuts now.  Future cuts to education would be avoided if existing taxes are extended. But the continuation of those taxes still needs the approval of voters. 

Later, in an interview Rahill said, “In a worst-case scenario, the state tax extensions  don’t pass, and an additional $330 is taken away per kid.  It would be another $1.6 million cut.”

This could lead to a total deficit for Benicia of $3.5 million. “We do plan for that possibility,” Rahill said at the school board meeting. A report on how the school district might deal with the deficit was promised for the next scheduled meeting.

Added to the bad news about the budget was a recent audit report finding of an outstanding balance of around $40,000 for a before- and after-school care program run by the district.  The program is offered at Mary Farmar, Joe Henderson and Matthew Turner elementary schools. 

Apparently the outstanding balance is from families who used, but did not pay for the service. “We need to look at (the program’s) procedures, and follow up on those families that aren’t paying their bills,” Rahill said.  The program ultimately did not have enough money to pay  its expenses and one staff member had to be laid off.

One piece of good news from the report was the state's indication it will honor the current year’s budget.  Currently there are no midyear budget cuts planned. 

The school board also voted to move its meetings back to the school district offices. The move will require $5,000 in upgrades to district board room plus another $100 per meeting for staff.  Updates will include new microphones and other audio equipment. The board room also now has LCD projectors and a permanent LCD screen for presentations. The district currently pays around $8,000 a year for the technical support required to use the City Council chambers. No date was given for the actual change of venue.

The next school board meeting will be 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 3, in City Council Chambers.