'Nothing is off the table'

One area was off limits a year ago as the Pasco County School Board slashed its budget to deal with dwindling state revenue.

The board and Superintendent Heather Fiorentino steadfastly avoided cuts that would have directly affected the classroom.

This year - with costs increasing and revenue shortfalls looming once again - classroom programs likely won't get such protection.

"Nothing is off the table," Fiorentino told the board during a workshop Tuesday. "Last time we said anything that affects students and the classroom is off the table.

"We can't do that this year. There is no way."

Fiorentino said the state Department of Education has told school districts to prepare for a 6 percent funding cut, which would be about $28 million for Pasco.

The school district also expects to spend an extra $3.5 million on retirement payments, and further reducing class sizes could cost the district an additional $13 million.

With expenses up and funding down, the district is projecting a $45 million to $50 million shortfall for 2010-11, she said.

Fiorentino said her staff will be brainstorming on potential areas to cut.

"It's going to be a real difficult year," she said.

Although revenue is shrinking, the school district isn't. Growth isn't as rapid as it was a few years ago, said John Simon, director of finance services. But the student population in Pasco is expected to increase to 66,977 in 2010-11, up from 66,499.

Next year's budget outlook could be even worse, said Summer Romagnoli, a school district spokeswoman.

Florida balanced its budget last year - and is expected to do so again this year - by using federal stimulus dollars. Pasco expects its share of the stimulus money to be $23 million - the same as in 2009.

"We are really concerned about next year when there will be no more stimulus dollars," Romagnoli said.

After making major spending cuts in the past three years, the district is running out of places to trim, Fiorentino said. "We are definitely at the core of our apple," she said.

"Looks like we are going to have to spit some seeds," board member Frank Parker said.