Local school districts, libraries taking steps to withstand more state budget cuts

The Cleveland Heights-University Heights school district is anticipating a 15-20 percent reduction in the funding it gets from the state, Superintendent Doug Heuer said. “We've been told the wealthier districts can expect larger cuts, and we are in the top 15 percent in wealth (in the state), according to the latest Ohio School Facilities Commission calculations,” he said. The district receives about $15 million in state funding, which is about 15 percent of its general-fund budget. The money goes into the general operating fund, Heuer said. To offset the loss, the district is looking to reduce expenditures in all areas that do not directly affect academic programs, he said. Shaker Heights Schools finance director Bryan Christman said the district budgeted $400,000 less in state funds for this year than the $14.37 million it received in 2010. The state funds account for 15.4 percent of the district’s budget. The district also has budgeted $8.5 million in receipts through the homestead tax exemption and rollback, which is another state funding source that could be reduced or eliminated altogether.