Beaverton School District Budget Deficit May Be Up To $12 Million

BEAVERTON, OR – There may be some tough times ahead for students in Beaverton. The district estimates that they are running a deficit of between $9 million and $12 million for this school year.

"It is never easy to share difficult news, but I want to be transparent and honest with you especially when it involves our operating budget," District Superintendent Don Grotting wrote staff last month, according to a copy of the memo provided to Patch.

The deficit was first reported by the Portland Tribune.

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Grotting says that district officials spent thee months taking a deep dive into the budget, with an eye on payroll analysis.

The short of it, Grotting says, is that the district overestimated the number of staff who would leave. As a result, the district is spending more on staff than it had anticipated.

"We are estimating this deficit due to variables that include: new pay equity law, drop in ESL and poverty students, over projection of staff attrition, and underestimation of classified and certified salaries," Grotting wrote.

District spokeswoman Maureen Wheeler tells Patch that the superintendent's cabinet will be meeting on Friday to discuss ways to close the budget gap.

Photo of Superintendent Don Grotting via Beaverton School District.