To find the least painful method of restoring the budget to a non deficit state.
In an effort to find solutions to the current budget crisis we must adjust spending priorities, eliminate non-essential programs, and find additional sources of permanent revenue. In order to accomplish this I believe we must communicate effectively and consistently with our state legislators, Superintendent of Public Instruction, and the Governor regarding adequate funding for our schools. We must convince them to re-evaluate the spirit of Prop. 98 which guarantees a level of funding for public schools. We must not accept Prop. 98 as a ceiling, rather, we must seek to view it as a floor.
We must foster a more amicable relationship with the Burbank City Council to gain financial assistance in ways that will not affect state funding. We must seek adequate funding from the Federal Government to fund Federal Titled programs. The Federal Government mandates programs; lets seek adequate funding for their mandates.
We need to establish partnerships with major businesses in the City of Burbank to fund non-essentian programs, and thus, relieve the strain on the General Fund.
On the surface, the easiest method of reducing expenditures in the district is to terminate employees. I am not in favor of eliminating jobs to balance the budget. Let us seek as many alternatives as possible before we begin to impact peoples lives.
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