By Kathryn Reed

Deb Yates, chief financial officer with Lake Tahoe Unified School District, gave an update on the budget — and it wasn’t as bleak as usual.

The local bottom line has improved since the budget was approved in June. There is an increase of $3.6 million – mostly from the federal Title 1 dollars, stimulus money, and the federal Jobs Bill Act. The latter ($700,000) could be used to stave off lay-offs in the spring.

With the state budget in disarray, it’s unknown what the impact will be to local districts. Yates said she is hearing the state deficit is likely to be $30 billion by the time lawmakers begin working on the 2011-12 budget.

The state has been changing how it calculates average daily attendance dollars, cost of living adjustments, if Proposition 98 will be adhered to and other snatching of the purse strings that makes it difficult for K-12 and community colleges to make definitive plans.

The district has been operating with a $1 million deficit that has been filled with one-time money.

Without knowing what the state will do, the board is not going to spend the “extra” money. It may not be a “surplus” in a few months.

In other action Dec. 14:

• Wendy David will serve as president for another year. Sue Novasel is the clerk.

• Joy Curry, Jody Boles, Rick Angelocci and Ginger Nicolay-Davis were appointed to the Citizens’ Bond Oversight Committee, with Patrick Martin, Mike Berg and David Kelly re-appointed.

• The first reading to adopt the school calendars for 2011-12 and 2012-13 took place. The final vote is scheduled for Jan. 11. Like this school year, classes will begin before Labor Day. It was noted by the board that calendars are based on student needs.