Yakima School District approves budget

The Yakima School District’s board of directors unanimously approved a $157 million budget Tuesday night.
The budget reflects an anticipated deficit of about $1.7 million and more than 20 fewer teaching positions. The reduction in teachers is being absorbed by not filling some positions vacated by retirements. No teachers are being laid off.

School district officials plan to absorb the budget shortfall with money from its reserve fund.

Each year, school districts prepare budgets to plan out expected revenue and expenditures for the upcoming school year. The district’s revenue is mostly determined by the number of students they anticipate having for the upcoming school year because they receive state and federal money based on enrollment.

The Yakima School District’s budget is based on the expectation of having the equivalent of 13,650 full-time students during the 2008-09 school year.