Monrovia School Closures Possible If Tax Measure Fails

The will face a $2.5 million budget deficit and could be forced to close schools if voters don't pass the governor's tax measure in November, according to a district agenda report.

The district drew up a contingency plan to deal with the loss of $441 per student if the tax measure fails, and one of the options on the table is closing schools. The move would save the district about $500,000, according to district estimates.

The district agenda report for Wednesday's meeting does not specify which schools would be considered for closure.

Closing schools is just one of many last-ditch options the district would have to look at if Governor Jerry Brown's "Schools and Local Public Safety Protection Act of 2012" fails on Nov. 6. The initiative would raise taxes for Californians making more than $250,000 per year.

In addition to school closures, the district could also lay off 13 or 14 full time employees, which would save about $768,000 under the contingency plan. Other cuts of last resort include eliminating home-to-school bus service and eliminating district contributions to secondary athletics.

If MUSD were to go through with all of the contingency options while also increasing attendance, the district would scrape together about $1.9 million in increased revenue and savings, about $600,000 less than its projected deficit.