Wolk coauthors legislation to provide school districts more local funding flexibility

Education committee passes bill to free funds for school maintenance

Under existing law, school districts must set aside at least 3% percent of their budget for the routine maintenance of facilities. However, the cost of cleaning school facilities and grounds is not considered “maintenance” for the purpose of this requirement. Senate Bill 1035 by Senator Dennis Hollingsworth would allow school districts to use up to one-third of their 3% general fund restricted maintenance monies for regular routine cleaning, potentially free up hundreds of thousands of dollars to save crucial school programs.

“Throughout my district schools are struggling to maintain facilities and meet their three percent budget reserve requirement,” said Assemblywoman Wolk. “This legislation would provide school districts with the flexibility needed during these tough budget times.”

In the Benicia Unified School District, which has projected a deficit of $1 million for the 2005-2006, the bill would free up $300 thousand to cover maintenance costs.

“That’s about $300 thousand in a time when we don’t have $300 thousand to pay for additional maintenance services,” said Kimberly Dennis, superintendent for the Benicia Unified School District. “We’ll have to make reductions to student programs and services to accomplish the three percent routine maintenance requirement. We greatly support SB 1035.”

SB 1035 was amended in Senate Education committee to include a 2-year sunset and language requiring a study on the extent to which districts utilize the new flexibility to fund their facilities cleaning costs. The bill is supported by the California School Board Association and several school districts, and will next be heard in Senate Rules Committee.