Q. When is up really down?

A. When it comes to next year’s state funding for Miami-Dade County Public Schools.

Though the Florida Legislature has approved more funding for our schools in 2012-2013, revenues for operations will actually decline from this year with property values still depressed and stopgap dollars soon to run out. All told, the District faces a $95 million shortfall, including $32 million earmarked for increased enrollment in charter schools, leaving a deep budget hole for educating the 300,000 students in the District’s non-charter schools.

Tough Choices, Painful Cuts

So, after five years of budget losses totaling $2.1 billion, the Miami-Dade School Board and administration face another round of tough choices and painful cuts. As always, our proven process of values-based decision making will guide our actions, ensuring our students’ best interests remain our bottom line. It will take such an approach to mitigate the mixed funding results born this year from mixed-up priorities in Tallahassee, despite the courage of Miami-Dade’s Legislative delegation in championing adequate funding on our behalf. It will also take ample input from the public as we develop our 2012-2013 budget and as we lobby the Legislature in Tallahassee to fully fund public schools in 2013-2014.

Local Budget Process 2012-2013

We have already gathered substantial public input through a series of town hall meetings across the county since the Legislature adjourned. Your involvement remains vital as we work toward the budget’s final adoption in September. Following are key opportunities for you to stay informed and make your voice heard.

May/June (TBD): Board Budget Workshop to discuss plan for balancing the budget;

June 13: Miami-Dade County School Board meets to readopt the 2011-2012 budget, amended as the interim budget for 2012-2013. School Board Administration Building (SBAB) Auditorium, 1450 N.E. 2 Avenue, 11:45 a.m.;

July 11: Superintendent delivers the tentative 2012-2013 budget to the School Board, with a copy to be posted at http://financialaffairs.dadeschools.net/manuals.asp;

July 18: School Board meets to authorize the Superintendent to advertise the tentative budget and millage levy. SBAB Auditorium, 11:45 a.m.;

July 26: School Board holds its first public hearing on the 2012-2013 budget then votes on adopting the tentative millage levy, annual budget, and school allocation plan. SBAB Auditorium, 6:00 p.m.; and

September 5: School Board holds its second public hearing then votes on adopting its final millage levy and annual budget. SBAB Auditorium, 6:00 p.m.

Not only do we welcome your involvement, we urge it. Be sure to visit www.dadeschools.net for updates throughout the budget process, attend budget meetings to listen or to give your input, or tune in to WLRN TV (Channel 17) or radio (91.3 FM) for live coverage of School Board meetings.

With your help, we will craft a budget worthy of our students and a future worthy of our community.

For more information, visit gafla.dadeschools.net.