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expressed how PUSD is a wonderful school district with great students performing well, teachers are
<br /> doing well, and staff is working very hard, even with additional cuts every year. She commented that
<br /> the State is "broken" and we have been trying to solve this problem for many years and is saddened
<br /> that staff at the state level can't help reform education and stabilize the situation.
<br /> Vice Mayor Cook-Kallio shared that the city is fortunate to anticipate things and put money aside,
<br /> however school districts can't do that, and people don't sometimes understand, "you can't wait to
<br /> teach a child to read", there's a certain skill set that's necessary at each grade level for them to
<br /> continue and prosper later on. The cumulative effect of not acquiring those skill sets we all pay as a
<br /> society later on.
<br /> Trustee Grant shared California state averages and National averages and compared PUSD to the
<br /> statistics such as California has the largest class sizes in the nation, fewest counselors per 1,000
<br /> students, fewest nurses per 1,000 students and the fewest Librarians. He noted that focus on fiscal
<br /> responsibility, making true collaborations with our associations and our amazing teaching staff, we
<br /> are better off than most school districts. He thanked Management and staff who stepped forward with
<br /> concessions and supported the district and students through the hard economic times.
<br /> President Arkin shared how it was a privilege to be a resident of Pleasanton for many years and was
<br /> sad to see the district slowly being dismantled and how many have moved here for the schools.
<br /> When we make cuts to student services it makes an impact to the entire City and if students aren't
<br /> getting interventions that they need, it really does impact everyone, it's hard but we as board
<br /> members will do our best and weather the storm.
<br /> Overview of City Finances: City Manager Fialho introduced Emily Wagner, Finance Director to
<br /> present the City's budget:
<br /> Ms. Emily Wagner shared how she was a graduate of Amador Valley High School. She noted that the
<br /> City does a two-year budget and on March 15th, the City Council adopted the mid-year budget for the
<br /> 2010 fiscal year and was currently in their 2nd year budget. Their current budget was adopted in June
<br /> 2009 and updated it mid-term in June 2010 and recently in March 2011 for a total of 18 months. In
<br /> their midyear update, they revised revenue estimates, recommended adjustments to expenditures
<br /> and transfers and their goal was to maintain a balanced budget. Their midyear operating budget is
<br /> comprised of the General Fund, where general taxes, property taxes are deposited and those monies
<br /> are used to fund Police, Fire, Library, Parks & Community Services. The General Fund is
<br /> approximately $86M, but the Enterprise, Internal Services, and Special Reserve Funds total
<br /> approximately $2M. She noted that when the General Fund of FY2010-11 was adopted in June 2009,
<br /> their Revenues were $89,532,843 and their Expenditures were relatively the same, therefore they
<br /> were able to meet their goal of adopting a balance budget. A year later things had changed drastically
<br /> and their source of Revenue dropped to about$84,905,010 and their Expenditures were much higher
<br /> at $87,548,903, therefore leaving a deficit of approximately $2,643.893 which would come out of
<br /> Reserves. When the updated budget was shared with City Council in March, (which was about a
<br /> week ago) they anticipated Revenues would be about $86.2M as their Expenditures, therefore
<br /> creating a balance budget.
<br /> Ms. Wagner explained what actions took place to balance the budget which were mainly through
<br /> personnel reductions of about$2.12M, and equaled 39 positions of retirement. The City elected not to
<br /> fill these positions. They also asked for concessions by their bargaining units. In September 2010, the
<br /> Firefighters agreed to pick up 2% of their PERS costs. She noted that Non-Personnel Reductions of
<br /> electricity, water, sewer costs, travel costs and contracted services were about$740,000.
<br /> On the General Fund side, the revenues trickled down over the past four years and noted the
<br /> amounts for each year. She shared what some of the trends looked like over the past 15 years. There
<br /> are four major tax revenues that make up 75% of the General Fund Revenue. There was a slight
<br /> increase on the secured property tax since 1996 and stabilization under Prop. 13, in which the City is
<br /> somewhat guaranteed about a 2% growth. The Secured Property Tax for 2010-11 is approximately
<br /> Joint City Council and
<br /> PUSD Board Minutes Page 5 of 7 March 28, 2011
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