Rancho Bernardo News Journal 07 06 17

Page 1

WWW.POMERADONEWS.COM

THURSDAY, JULY 6, 2017

50 cents (includes tax) |

Vol. 65, ISSUE 6

PUSD looking for solutions to budget woes

INSIDE

Are you up for a hiking challenge? A14

BY EMILY SORENSEN Poway Unified School District governing board has been told the district is facing several years of deficit spending if changes are not made. The Board of Education approved the $369.6 million 2017-18 budget at the June 29 regular board meeting, which will end in a deficit of $17.2 million. The projected budgets for 2018-19 and 2019-20 will also end in deficits, of $14.4 and $13.3 million, respectively, according to Ron Little, the district’s new associate superintendent of business

support services. Three years of deficit spending will reduce the district’s reserve fund to 4 percent by the end of 2019-20 if no changes are made, Little said. Little described deficit spending as a “black hole” that is difficult to get out of once it starts. The proposed budgets for 2018-19 and 2019-20 include cuts of $8 million in 2018-19 and an additional $6 million in 2019-20, but both budgets will still be in the deficit, according to Little’s projections.

In a cover letter distributed with the budget, Supt. Marian Kim-Phelps said projections show district revenues to grow about 2 percent annually over the next three years while expenditure growth is pegged at about 4 percent annually. “State-mandated increases in employer contributions to STRS/PERS (school employee pension programs) continue to make a dramatic impact on school districts’ budgets across California,” she wrote. “PUSD paid approximately $22 million in STRS/PERS

costs. This amount will increase each year and will double in four years’ time!” At the June 29 meeting, the board laid out the steps it will be taking in the upcoming months to gather information about how it can battle its budgetary woes. A district budget advisory committee will be formed, which should begin meeting in August. This committee will be tasked with brainstorming ideas and advice for the district and board on how it can reduce its deficit. SEE PUSD, A9

■ Then and Now, A4 ■ Vacation Photos, A6 ■ Opinion, A10 ■ Calendar, A12 ■ Obituaries, A14

ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK STEVE DREYER

Chamber Music Festival is Saturday in Rancho Bernardo. B4

■ Sports, B1 ■ Entertainment, B4 ■ Classifieds, B7 ■ Seniors, B13 ■ Homes, B15 Rancho Bernardo/4S Ranch News Journal

An Edition of

14023 Midland Road Poway, CA 92064 (858) 218-7200 pomeradonews.com

CELEBRATING THE FOURTH

Members of Cub Scout Pack 627 showed their patriotic pride during Tuesday’s 48th annual Spirit of the Fourth Parade. The parade featured the five Poway Unified School District high school marching bands, youth groups, civic groups and local politicians. The day also included a patriotic ceremony and community fair in Webb Park, pet contest, car show and vendors. Fireworks at Bernardo Heights Middle School concluded in the day. See more photos on Page A8.

Are you going to Comic-Con this year? The Rancho Bernardo News Journal wants to print photos of locals at San Diego Comic-Con — especially if in costume. Include first and last names of those pictured, community of residence (i.e. Poway, Rancho Bernardo, 4S Ranch) and if in character, who you are dressed as. Photos must be high resolution. Deadline is 9 a.m. Tuesday, July 25. Submit via email to editor@pomeradonews.com.

Alex Lawn and Tracey van Putten wish each other well as they launch their campaigns to become the 2017-18 Rancho Bernardo Honorary Mayor.

RB Honorary Mayor candidates launch campaigns Supporters have opportunities to win prizes BY ELIZABETH MARIE HIMCHAK With summer here, the race between Rancho Bernardo’s two honorary mayor candidates is heating up. Until the “election” concludes on Oct. 17 — the last evening Alex Lawn and Tracey van Putten may sell $5 “votes” to their supporters — the two will be out campaigning for the office while raising money for their community. Both live in Rancho Bernardo. Lawn is co-owner of Greenway Irrigation, Lawn and Landscape in Poway. Van Putten is a mortgage broker with Skyline Home Loans in RB. SEE CANDIDATES, A9

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