MERIDIAN, Idaho (AP) _ The superintendent of Idaho's largest
school district expects to lose $8 million in state general funding
during the next fiscal year and, at the same time, enroll about 900
new students.

Meridian Superintendent Linda Clark says the district will have
to consider salary cuts to balance the budget, along with shifting
a larger percentage of benefit costs to employees.

Clark says 85 percent of an Idaho school district's budget is
dedicated to salaries and benefits, which leaves administrators few
other places to turn after two straight years of funding losses.

Idaho's $1.58 billion public education budget for next year
represents a 7.5 percent cut compared to this fiscal year.

The Meridian district's governing board will further discuss
their budget plan Tuesday, the Idaho Statesman reports.

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Information from: Idaho Statesman, http://www.idahostatesman.com


(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
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