Washington-area educators are on edge, awaiting the possibility of more budget cuts as state officials continue to grapple with deficits.
In Virginia, officials expect Gov. Tim Kaine to come out with what will likely be bad news in early September. Kaine said last week he would have to cut $1.5 billion more from the current fiscal year’s budget, and potentially more in the next two years.
The state’s department of education, with other departments, submitted proposals for 5 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent reductions earlier this summer.
“We’ll have no details until after Labor Day,” said department spokeswoman Julie Grimes.
In Fairfax County, where the school board cut its budget nearly to the bone last spring, officials are hoping for the best, but budgeting in the dark, for now.
“We’ll have no idea until they give us additional information,” said district spokeswoman Mary Shaw.
In Maryland, the Board of Public Works is scheduled to cut $470 million more from the state budget Wednesday. The three-person board, which comprises the governor, state treasurer and state comptroller, has the authority to make budget cuts when the General Assembly is not in session.
But though county services are on the line, education funding looks likely to stay in safe territory.
“The governor has no plans to cut education,” said his spokeswoman, Christine Hansen.
The board’s $280 million round of reductions in July left education unscathed, as well.
School officials in Maryland are banking on the governor keeping his word.
“If the governor holds to what he has said, we’ll be OK,” said Prince George’s County school board member Rosalind Johnson. “He’s said that education and teacher retirement are not on the chopping block.”
Prince George’s situation would be uniquely dire were the state to dip into schools. In its approved fiscal 2010 budget, the board used more than $17 million in reserve funds, leaving less than $4 million to deal with unseen crises.
