By Elaine Baumgartel
Albuquerque, NM – Superintendent Winston Brooks last night offered a budget proposal to the Albuquerque Public School Board that would layoff 664 district employees, require two furlough days from non-school employees, and cut non-school budgets by 6.5 percent. The Albuquerque Journal reports the proposal would cut operating budgets at schools by 1.5 percent.
Layoffs would focus specifically on double dippers, retirees who have returned to work and are earning both a pension and a salary.
The district's $43 million budget shortfall is due to cuts in state funding and $20 million in accounting errors made over the past several years.