The Joint Community Budget Committee has been reviewing the budgets of the Technology and Talent Strategy departments during meetings held on October 8 and 15. The focus remains on identifying potential cost reductions and revenue opportunities.
In the Technology department, efforts are underway to improve efficiencies, including a transition to Google, projected to save $500,000. Over the past year, this department reduced its budget by $1.4 million through cuts in staffing and non-staffing expenses. For the current fiscal year, an additional $3.4 million reduction is planned through staff vacancies and further non-staffing cuts.
Potential revenue sources include vendor partnerships offering grant opportunities and monetizing real estate through cellular monopoles for rental income from cell towers. The department is exploring possible partnerships in this area.
Within Talent Strategy, reducing turnover and onboarding costs is a key focus. The teacher retention rate has increased to 80.4%, up by 5.3% from the previous school year, potentially leading to long-term savings. Further consolidations of divisions and downgrading specific professional positions through attrition are also being considered.
The committee was initially scheduled to meet one last time on October 22 but decided to extend meetings until November 12 after the results of the Prop A ballot initiative are known.
Looking ahead, the administration plans to present its budget reduction plan at the Board of Trustees meeting on November 21. This plan will include ideas explored with the committee.