PREPARED BY: MATT RODRIGUEZ DATE OF MEETING: 02/18/20
SUBJECT:
TITLE
CITY COUNCIL RATIFICATION OF LETTER TRANSMITTED BY MAYOR CRUZ TO THE WEST CONTRA COSTA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD OF TRUSTEES REGARDING PROPOSED NON-SALARY REDUCTIONS TO ADDRESS A PROJECTED FY 2020-21 WCCUSD BUDGET DEFICIT OF $47.8M
Label
CITY MANAGER RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Authorize by Minute Order
Body
Compliance statements
FY 2019-21 Council Priority Workplan Compliance Statement
Build a Healthy Community: Policy No. 100.3 - Foster College and Career Readiness, Education, Youth Leadership, and City/Contra Costa College/WCCUSD Partnerships are adopted policy items contained in the FY 2019-21 Council Adopted Workplan, effective March 1, 2019.
CEQA Compliance Statement
This is not a project as defined by CEQA
BACKGROUND
On February 12, 2020, the Trustees of the West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) were scheduled to review $8M in Non-Salary Contract Reductions to address a looming $47.8M WCCUSD Budget projected for FY 2020/21.
Over several years, the City and WCCUSD have committed to a joint funding partnership which has been positive and productive in supporting non-academic contract services to eliminate or minimize many barriers and disparities to student academic achievement at local WCCUSD schools in San Pablo. In fact, the City of San Pablo will expend a total of $1.26M annually from its own City’s General Fund (GF) Operating Budget for FY 2019/20, along with a WCCUSD funding annual contribution of $240,000, to jointly fund a number of City-provided programs and services at local WCCUSD schools in San Pablo on an annual basis which include, as follows:
• School Resource Officers (Total Net GF: $300,000)
• FSCS/Beacon Schools Team for Youth Grants/Contracts (Total Net GF: $667,000)
• Childhood Obesity Prevention Program Grants/Contracts (Total Net GF: $300,000)
Total City Net GF Contribution: $1.26M
The City’s annual funding contribution of $1.26M through direct GF funding support and grants awarded to contract service organizations represents a significant contribution to assist and support WCCUSD schools within San Pablo, and exceeds funding support from any other West County city located within WCCUSD boundaries. However, the City of San Pablo is very concerned about the significant budget challenges faced by the WCCUSD Board to address a looming $47.8M budget deficit for FY 2020/21.
WCCUSD Annual Contract Services Funding
The City of San Pablo values the following WCCUSD annual funding totaling $240,000 for FY 2019/20 for the following non-essential contract services through our ongoing joint funding partnership. To date, WCCUSD Administration is not recommending any contract reductions to these WCCUSD funds at this time to the WCCUSD Board. However, as the WCCUSD Board proceeds forward with further budget reductions with various organizations, local cities, and other service providers, all non-salary contract services are subject to potential elimination or substantial reductions prior to June 30, 2020.
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FY 2019-20 WCCUSD FUNDED CONTRACT SERVICES TO THE CITY OF SAN PABLO AT WCCUSD SCHOOLS IN SAN PABLO: |
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Contract Program/Service: Amount: 1). School Resource Officer Funding $150,000 (Funds 85% of 1 F/T SRO) 2). FSCS/Beacon Schools Funding $ 90,000 (Funds 25% of 6 F/T Beacon Directors) Total: $240,000 |
Letter of Concern from Mayor Cruz & City Council
Due to the WCCUSD’s current and ongoing budget deliberations since December 2019, a letter of concern was developed and executed by Mayor Cruz, and transmitted on February 11, 2020 to express the City’s concern over the proposed $6M in non-salary contract reductions being reviewed at the WCCUSD Board on February 12, 2020 (See Attachment).
Further cost impacts are not known at this time since many current contract service organizations who receive separate funding from WCCUSD directly and who are also current City contract service providers may see program funding reduced substantially in FY 2020/21. This could result in a significant elimination or reduction of critical non-academic resources to much needed students and families at District schools in San Pablo. City staff intends to monitor all WCCUSD budget deliberations through June 2020, and ascertain the level of impact to San Pablo schools, and any ‘domino effect’ on City provided programs and services at local schools for FY 2020/21.
City Council Ratification Action
This evening, the City Council is being requested to ratify the February 11, 2020 letter transmitted by Mayor Cruz via minute action.
FISCAL IMPACT
None associated with this action.
ATTACHMENT:
1). Letter Transmitted by Mayor Cruz on February 11, 2020 to WCCUSD Board of Trustees