MOORPARK : School Board OKs $20.5-Million Budget

The Moorpark school board has approved a $20.5-million preliminary budget that leaves the district with a reserve smaller than that recommended by the county and state.

Officials of the Moorpark Unified School District said Wednesday that they will submit the budget to the Ventura County superintendent of schools office even though the reserve is $52,000 short. The state recommends that a school district place 3% of its operating budget in reserve.

The district, which faced a $1.2-million deficit, instituted a hiring freeze for teaching, clerical and maintenance positions. And the budget contains no money for employee raises. Contracts for both teachers and classified employees, including maintenance and food service workers, expire June 30.

County school officials said they consider Moorpark’s revenue shortage to be small.

“It equates to about a quarter of a percent of their budget. That’s not big dollars,” said Bob Smith, assistant superintendent of business services for the county. “If it were 1% short, we would want to review the budget immediately.”

However, extra reports and monthly meetings at the superintendent’s office may be required if the district’s final budget does not contain at least 3% in reserve, Smith said. A final budget is due to county officials by Sept. 15.