The Facts

Due to unfunded state mandates (resulting in increased mandatory expenses) and decreased or stagnant state funding (reduction in revenue) over the last 6 years, the UCPS budget is projected to have more than an approximate $1 million shortfall in next year’s budget. Because of budget struggles over the last several years, the district’s contingency fund has decreased steadily and will continue to decrease with a projected drop to the critical 2% level by 2017. If a district falls below a 2% contingency, the state will take over the district.

What has been done to address the problem?
In 2013-14, the district made $1.2 million budget reductions and implemented cost-saving efforts to further save approximately $700,000. In 2014-15, the budget was reduced by an additional $250,000.
In total, nearly $2 million dollars has been cut in expenses from the UCPS budget over the last two years. This has included the elimination of approximately 25 positions including administration, cut in district administrators’ pay, not purchasing replacement busses, eliminating employee dental and 401K benefits, closing childcare centers, renegotiating all contracts, scrubbing costs, etc.

What is the solution?
A School Occupational Tax is the solution. We have no additional expenses to cut without affecting student services. At this point, we must generate new revenue. This will not occur at the state level; we must step up locally, right here in Union County, and decide what kind of schools we want our children to attend and what we can do to ensure they are funded properly.
 
What is a School Occupational Tax?