Keokuk, IA – The Keokuk School Board had to cut spending by roughly $1.4-million to balance the district's current budget.
Superintendent Lora Wolff says that was done without issuing a pink slip, thanks to early retirements and re-assigning duties to current employees.
She says, based on early projections, balancing the 2012-2013 budget will require $1.2-million in cuts.
Wolff says that number is the result of a reduction in state aid, due to declining enrollment, and increased expenses.
Wolff says $500,000 of that has already been identified through previous reductions.
She says that leaves $700,000 for the Keokuk School Board to cut.
"What becomes more difficult," says Wolff, "even though the number is smaller, is we have less staff and we do not have that many fewer students this year."
Wolff does not believe an early retirement incentive will be effective this time around.
She says the staff is relatively young at this point and the economy has more people looking to work longer.
Wolff says the administration hopes to provide the Keokuk School Board with a list of potential reductions within the next few months.
The district's budget must be certified by mid-April.