Vermilion Parish School Board member questions projected shortfall of $3.2 million

Entering a new school year, the Vermilion Parish School District is on track to have a projected shortfall of $3.2 million by the end of the school year. One school board member said that amount is not written in stone - and it’s just a “projection.”
The reason for the projected shortfall is because of the decline in oil and gas revenue and sales tax collections in Vermilion Parish.
School Board member Kibbie Pillette is having a hard time understanding why the parish’s education system is about to be turned upside down this early in the year because of a “projected” shortfall by the end of the school year.
The school board is looking at making cuts during the school year to help ease the blow of a projected $3.2 million shortfall. The cuts include everything from not hiring positions to cutting back on purchasing school furniture.
Pillette voiced his concerns.
“The $3.2 million is only a projection based on the revenues today. Am I correct?” said Pillette to School Board Financial Officer Phil Sellers.
“It is based on what we expect to get,” answered Phil.
“Based on what we get right now,” replied Pillette. “That is not hard facts to say that by the end of the year we will be three and half million dollars in the hole.”
Instead of making cuts in the school district, Pillette’s idea is to take the money out of the school district’s reserve (savings) and use it to pay bills that can not be paid from the income being collected.
There is $12 million in the school district’s reserve fund.
“Why do we have a reserve?” said Pillette. “You have a reserve to be used in a time of a down economy. There is no guarantee we will be down next year at this time. What are we afraid of?”
Pillette said the school board is reacting too quickly to cut because of the projected shortfall.
“What I do not like is to say we are going to have to cut teachers from the system,” Pillette added. “Where are we going to cut teachers? We are also going to have to cut administration staff.”
He said he does not want to cut teachers and services unless the school district is in a “financial bind.”
No action was taken by the school board on the budget.