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# School district juggling fiscal crunch
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/school-district-juggling-fiscal-crunch/
- Published: 2005-06-27T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T07:17:47.000Z
- Author: Ryan Hyatt
- Tags: Education, Malibu, #archive-import

*City Hall will continue helping schools for 10 years*

DISTRICT HDQTRS. — Despite fears the public education system in California will continue to be inadequately funded, Santa Monica school officials said they have minimized the effects of financial setbacks in next year’s budget.

Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board members adopted the projected $64.12 million budget for fiscal year 2005-06 on Friday, and acknowledged that a $6.1 million subsidy from the city of Santa Monica will be essential for the schools to maintain their quality of programming.

The budget takes into account all guaranteed sources of funding, as well as a slight attrition of enrollment in which the district anticipates a drop of 235 students, bringing the estimated total to 12,545.

Still, school officials at Friday’s meeting said the adopted budget could be revised in coming months because Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has yet to commit resources the district has depended on in the past to fund its programs.

“It should be noted the absence of ‘predictability’ of the governor’s office to commit to and deliver all outstanding money owed the district, as well as the proposed November 2005 special election, will impact our ability to attest, with confidence, our own projections and stability through the 2005-06 fiscal year,” said a report issued by the district.

The special election for which the governor is calling, if successful, might legally allow the governor to redirect funding sources typically allocated to the schools, officials have said.

To address the state’s public education funding issues, the 2005-06 SMMUSD budget does not anticipate these funds the governor could issue will actually materialize.

As a result, school officials said that while total district revenues are expected to increase by $2.16 million next year compared to this year, a $3.28 million increase in overall expenditures is expected to result in a $794,728 deficit.

To balance the budget, the district will be taking money from its reserves, using 41 percent outright of its $1.92 million in anticipated reserves for next year.

The $1.92 million, which represents approximately 3 percent of the district’s anticipated budget, is the amount of savings the SMMUSD is required by law to have on-hand at the beginning of its fiscal year.

Santa Monica schools, which have been stripped of millions of dollars of funding since Schwarzenegger took office, are expected to continue to face increased deficits in coming years.

Still, officials on Friday said next year’s budget shortfall will be less than the district might have anticipated if the city of Santa Monica had not agreed to provide more than $6 million in funding next year for the schools.

“We’re at a good point in a year that’s been trying fiscally,” said Julia Bromley, school board vice president. “If we were looking at the budget three or four months ago, we’d be in a different place.”

Santa Monica public schools, which have been receiving at least $6 million in funding annually from City Hall since the Governor’s budget cuts began a few years ago, reached an agreement this spring with the city, which agreed to continue subsidizing local public education efforts for 10 years.

This circumstance, believed to be unique statewide, has been essential for the district’s well-regarded education programming, said school board member Oscar de la Torre.

“Without the residents of Santa Monica, we’d be looking at a different budget entirely,” said de la Torre, who thanked City Hall for supporting the schools.

John Deasy, the district’s superintendent, whose daughter graduated from Santa Monica High School on Thursday, indicated he was relieved the district’s budget is moving forward.

“Obviously, I concur,” Deasy said after de la Torre’s remark.

Meanwhile, one person used the public comment portion of Friday’s school board meeting to criticize aspects of the district’s proposed budget.

Zina Josephs said the SMMUSD should reconsider a decision to drop an eighth grade drama course in the fall at John Adams Middle School.

Officials responded by saying a drama component will continue to be offered in the language arts course offered at the school. Also, opportunities to participate in afterschool theater are also available for students throughout the district.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 27, 2005.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/062705.pdf?ref=smdp.com)