 |
Effects of the Revenue Caps
|
Relationship Between Number of Cost-Saving Actions and Changes in Enrollment
In their written comments since 1994, superintendents from districts with stable or decreasing student populations have reported that they are being hit especially hard by the revenue caps. In contrast, superintendents from districts in which the student population is increasing have tended to report fewer cuts in programs or services. For example, the mean and median numbers of cost-saving actions reported for 1996-97 and since 1993-94 are highest among those districts which lost students during the three-year period from 1993-94 to 1995-96.
Contrast this pattern with districts which have experienced annual increases in student population during this period of 3% or greater. The mean and median number of cuts are significantly fewer than in districts which have lost students.
| Table 4
Number of Cost-Cutting Actions Related to Changes in Student Population 1993-94 to 1995-96(three-year average) |
|||||
| Change in Student Population | Number of Districts | No. of Cost-Cutting Measures in 1997 | No. of Cost-Cutting Actions since 1993-94 | ||
| Mean | Median | Mean | Median | ||
| Decrease in Population | 55* | 9.0 | 9 | 10.6 | 11 |
| Up to 2.99%increase | 190 | 6.4 | 6 | 8.1 | 8 |
| 3% more | 57 | 5.5 | 4 | 6.8 | 6 |
*The Legislative Fiscal Bureau reports that 32 districts lost 3% or more of their student population from 1993-94 to 1995-96. The districts with losses greater than 7% for the three years are as follows: Mellen (-17.4%), Neosho J3 (-11.5%), Linn J4 (-9.5%), New Auburn (-8.8%), Kohler (-8.7%), Linn J6 (-8.2%), Sharon J11 (-7.8%), and Winter (-7.5%).
Posted February 4, 1998
 |
 |