October 2007 News
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Basic Aid Projections for the Santa Barbara Elementary School District
A recent study by the Santa Barbara County Education Office projects that the Santa Barbara Elementary School District will become basic aid by fall 2010. Given current assumptions used to calculate revenue, based on the best information on property tax growth, student enrollment declines, charter school enrollment, state cost of living adjustment (COLA), and other factors, crossing the threshold to basic aid funding could bring additional revenue (as much as $1.2 million) to the elementary district in 2010-2011.
Since the information used in the assumptions will change over the next three years, the date or actual amount will not be known until the district becomes basic aid. Other districts that have become basic aid have also fallen out of basic aid status and reverted to revenue limit funding during the first couple of years of the change, so there is little certainty about the projections or the future of the elementary district as a basic aid district. At future board meetings, the board of education will continue discussions about basic aid and changes in the assumptions.