With school districts ready to vote on budgets and board members on Tuesday, those districts are dealing with a number of issues, including new unfunded state mandates, complying with Common Core standards, and uncertainty over new teacher evaluations.
That's according to the executive director of the Monroe County School Boards Association, Jody Siegle.
She says the state hasn't fulfilled its promise of mandate relief after imposing a tax cap.
"Not only have we not seen any significant mandate relief, but we have seen major new costly mandates imposed on districts in the years since it has been passed."
Siegle adds districts are trying to put forth budgets that contain the kinds of programs their communities expect, and at the same time deal with financial constraints. As a result, she says, districts are still turning to their reserve funds to make that possible.
No school districts in Monroe County are seeking to override the tax cap, which would require a super majority of voters in order to pass.
Siegle says the average tax levy increase sought by schools in Monroe County is 2.28 percent, and the average budget increase is 3 percent.
There's more school budget information at mscba.org