Livingston Predicts Deficit For School System

LIVINGSTON, La. (AP) — Increases in sales tax revenue and state funding based on student enrollment will not be enough to keep the Livingston Parish school system's 2012-13 budget from running a deficit. That's according to a draft presented to School Board members Tuesday.

The Advocate reports the School Board's Budget/Goals Committee voted to recommend approval of the budget, which projects a $2.8 million general fund deficit for the year, dropping the fund's balance to $8.3 million.

Business manager Terry Hughes says the $179.6 million general fund includes a projected 7 percent increase in sales tax collections over 2011-12, amounting to an additional $1.3 million in revenues, as well as $1.3 million more in state funding based on the district's increase in student enrollment.

The board takes up the budget on Sept. 6.

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Information from: The Advocate, http://theadvocate.com