Billings school district needs to cut about $4M in spending

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — The Billings school district needs to cut about $4 million in planned spending to avoid a deficit.

Superintendent Greg Upham said Monday his proposals won't compromise safety, will impact academic achievement as little as possible and lean toward reducing rather than eliminating programs.

The Billings Gazette reports a budget study found the district was spending nearly 96 percent of his K-8 general fund budget on salaries. Budget consultant Todd Watkins said that figure should be closer to 90 percent.

The district recently built two middle schools and Watkins says it appears the estimated operating and staffing costs "were significantly understated."

Upham says he'll encourage trustees to ask voters to approve an operating levy this spring.

Trustees complained that the state school budget formula short-changes larger districts.

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Information from: The Billings Gazette, http://www.billingsgazette.com