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ASD panel digs into budget By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland School District Budget Committee members received their first glimpse of the proposed 2003-2004 spending plan. The five-member budget committee, in addition to the Ashland School Board, met Monday night to begin preliminary discussions pertaining to the proposed $18.5 million budget. The presented budget is a $1 million reduction from the previous academic year. With the budget document in hand, committee members began trying to clarify some of the district's financial unknowns. Member John Schleining questioned the financial impact the Public Employees Retirement System will have on the district - the budget assumes an increase in the overall PERS rate based on unfunded actuarial liability being assessed of all public employers. School officials said the district's portion of the multi-billion dollar PERS debt stands at $12 million. However, Superintendent Juli Di Chiro said there are several bills before the Legislature that could alter the district's portion of PERS costs. "All of that pending legislation will have an effect," Di Chiro said. Schleining said his concern is for the future of the district and that to make informed decisions now, a better understanding of the PERS issue is necessary. "I would like to be more educated on it (PERS) so that I can say we don't have to do anything about it this year," Schleining said. District officials said they would bring materials outlining PERS to the next budget meeting. According to district officials, PERS is not the only uncertainty in the proposed budget draft. "There are a lot of unknowns in this document. I would say more than ever before," Di Chiro said. The budget hinges on the outcome of the legislative session and the eventual funding level of K-12 education. It will also be impacted by negotiations with employee groups which will be finalized by May 17 - the budget assumes a salary freeze for all staff - and the results of the Youth Activities Levy on May 20. In addition to receiving the budget draft, committee members: appointed Jill Turner as committee chair; appointed Carol Davis as vice chair; and, set the committee's calendar. The next committee meeting - a question and answer session - will be held at 6:30 p.m., Monday, May 12 in the Ashland Council Chambers. An additional meeting is scheduled for 8:15 p.m., Tuesday, May 20 in the District Board Room to discuss the outcome of the May 20 election. LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -