FY12 budget: the notes are online

Due to the length discussion around MCAS scores on Thursday night, the report of the superintendent--an FY12 budget presentation from the Governor's proposed budget--was postponed until our next meeting (on February 17). The update, however, is online.
A few items of note:

• WPS foundation budget will increase by 4% next year ($11.1 million, with $9.5 million from the state and $1.46 million coming from the city). This is due to an increase in enrollment (of 280 students), an increased number of limited English proficient students, and a change in the inflation factor.*
• The inflation factor (of 1.78%) does not reflect the actual increase in costs.
• Special education circuit breaker funding appears (note the verb) to increase by $1.1 million

Currently, this leaves the estimated deficit at $6.69 million, equivalent to 134 teachers.**



*I should note that there's also some complications here with charter school reimbursement, enrollment, and changes. It probably deserves its own post, but read the bottom of page 2 to the middle of page 3 if you're interested.
**Also, those trucks and other equipment out clearing parking lots and driveways of excess snow during non-school hours aren't free. Watch the next quarter finance report on this.