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CISD to approve budget, deficit items on Monday

By Scott Harvey

Commerce – We'll find out Monday what the Commerce ISD plans to do about a projected budget deficit for the 2010-2011 school year.

According to Superintendent Blake Cooper, the district is facing a nearly $600,000 shortfall. That's despite efforts district-wide that have already helped cut the budget by $390,000.

The Board could choose to dip into its fund balance (savings account), make additional cuts, or call for a .13 tax rate hike, which would require voter approval. An election, if approved, will be held in August.

Cooper says Commerce ISD isn't the only district facing such challenges.

"Over 50 percent of the districts in the State of Texas will be operating at a deficit budget next year."

And as costs keep going up and state funding is pulled back, it could be just as difficult to balance the 2011-2012 budget.

Monday's meeting beings at 7 p.m. at the Commerce Middle School Library, at which time a public hearing will take place. Adoption of the budget will occur thereafter.