Rio Rancho School District Budget Won’t Require Cuts

Rio Rancho Public Schools will not have to make cuts or dip into its cash to come up with a balanced budget in Fiscal Year 2012-13 according executive director of finance Randy Evans.

This is the first time in several years the district is not dealing with a budget shortfall.

Evans told the board members during their meeting tonight that the projected operating budget expenditures for the coming fiscal year were $108.08 million, giving the district an approximately $26,000 surplus when compared to projected revenues.

Evans said an increase in the amount of money the state gives schools districts per student helped balance the budget. The state increase and the addition of more enrolled students will give RRPS approximately $2.39 million more than it had for Fiscal Year 2011-12. Evans said most of the extra money is going towards mandated increases to retirement and insurance benefits.

He said his projections do not include any “enhancements.” He said if the district wants to do something like add extra programs, it would have to look at using its cash balance or making cuts.