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Dunkirk City School District going red in 2019

Dunkirk Schools’ Business Administrator William Thiel presented a preliminary budget in January.

The numbers aren’t looking favorable in the coming years for the Dunkirk City School District as Business Manager Will Thiel presented the updated budget plan at a recent meeting. In 2019, the district will have to go into its fund balance as it will run a loss.

Thiel, who prepared the board with a similar presentation in December, noted the necessity for change in both revenue and cost efficiency.

“In December, we did a presentation to the board about reserve accounts and what a five-year outlook might be,” Thiel said. “So, it’s not a surprise there will be a deficit, but you have to be mindful that when you’re there, it is difficult to come back from that. We won’t be able to achieve the efficiencies necessary to bring us back from that, unless we, one, find ways to control expenses or, two, find additional revenue. Both are out there, both can happen.”

Thiel was adamant that the district can do a mixture of both, receive new revenue and control costs.

When asked on the possibility of cuts in the near future, he stated the district has been “proactive” in taking such measures.

“Not necessarily,” Thiel said in regard to cuts. “We have to make sure we are structured in a way that enables us to get the people in front of the kids to do the work. That’s our teaching staff, so we have made cuts over the years. We have been proactive in making cuts, but sooner or later you reach the point where that is not the reality.”

The Dunkirk Board of Education will meet April 12 at 6:30 p.m.

Twitter: @ByKuczkowski

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