By Kevin Lavery, KWMU
St. Louis, MO. – The St. Louis public school district could face more tough budget decisions in order to stave off a potential deficit next year.
Chief Financial Officer Harry Rich says while it will stay in the black through the end of this fiscal year, the district will have to reallocate resources to pay for upcoming costs.
Rich says the school board must pay for $7 million worth of teacher salary increases and a $10 million textbook update.
"That's what leads us to have a spending deficit, or a projected spending deficit if we don't take some steps," Rich said, "And we have to take those steps; we don't have the ability to fund more expenses than revenues for next year."
No hard decisions have been made, but Rich says the district is reviewing the possibility of cuts to both staff and services.