UCSD looking at losing funding due to approval of charter school in Utica
-->By: Jennifer Lee
Updated: February 13, 2013
The Utica City School District is looking to cut over eighty positions in the 2013 - 2014 budget year.
Superintendent Bruce Karam says the district is facing over a $5 million deficit.
He says the budget gap is not because of an expenditure problem, rather a revenue problem.
Not only does the district need to worry about a lack funding from the state, but Mr. Karam says they'll be losing more funds with the approval of a charter school in Utica.
"The projections are according to the enrollments that they are projecting and the grade levels they will be serving, 6-12th eventually that we will be looking at a loss of $13 million over a five year period. If that does happen we have to make our budget reductions accordingly," said Mr. Karam.
The school district is projected to lose about $1.8 million dollars this year to the Utica Academy of Science which plans on having over 170 students.
Eyewitness News previously reached out to the charter school's director.
He says the UCSD is eligible for transitional aid if the charter school takes more than two percent of Utica's budget.
