Pittsburgh Public Schools Introduces Preliminary 2009 Budget

Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Mark Roosevelt has proposed a preliminary budget that proposes 10.4 million dollars in overall reductions. The reductions include $2.7 million at the school level and $7.7 million in reductions at the central office. The reductions will result in the closing of vacant positions, reductions in overtime and improved cost controls. The district is facing increasing costs when it comes to employee benefits and salaries and will result with an operating deficit of $13.4 million dollars for the budget year. The district does not want to dip into its fund balance to cover the costs because it wants to retain its current bond rating. There will be two public meetings held before the budget is voted for. They will be on Tuesday December 2ND at 2 PM at the administration building in conference room A and Monday December 8Th at 7 PM in the same room.