District To Submit Balanced Budget

It´s close this year, but the Sonora Union High District officials will present the board of trustees a balanced final 2003-2004 budget, in the black “by just more than $9,000 for the general fund,” said district Chief Business Official Peggy Abrille. “That´s pending whatever the outcome is with the state, of course.”

Second guessing what cuts the state´s will make to education hasn´t been easy. “Overall it´s been a very tough year,” she admitted. “Yes we have had to make some program cutbacks and we´ve reduced our supplyline items and all of our other non-salary line items including traveling and conference quite a bit.”

The district had to make adjustments to their budget following “mid-year” cuts that didn´t come to fruition until May. But all-in-all, she says, impacts on programs will be minimal.

“I think we´ve done a good job,” she said.

The district will hold a public hearing Tuesday evening prior to adopting the new budget. The district board meets at 6 p.m. at Babe Michel Library, 430 N. Washington Street in Sonora.