The Rapid City school district's budget for 2009-10 could be $2 million less than this school year, under plans announced Thursday.

The district's current budget is $80.9 million. Staff and administrators have been instructed to cut 5 percent - about $4 million - for the 2009-10 school year, school district business manager Dave Janak told the school board Thursday.

Cutting $4 million in the districts's proposed spending would reduce the budget to $76 million. Janak said with projected state aid and other revenue, the actual budget would be $78 million. "It would be a $2 million net cut," he said.

Janak said proposed across-the-board cuts would see the elementary schools' budget cut by about $900,000, middle schools about $680,000 and high schools about $500,000.

Those kinds of cuts have people worried about losing their jobs.

"None of it's good when making cuts," said Sue Podoll, co-president of the Rapid City Education Association, the bargaining union for teachers and other employees.

Staff at area schools have started meeting to discuss what will have to be cut and ways to be more efficient. Janak said cuts will be necessary because of the shaky economy and Gov. Mike Rounds' warning that state aid for education might increase less than 2 percent or 3 percent.

The budget process is starting earlier this year than last year, when the district cut $2.7 million from its proposed budget and sparked community criticism for certain cuts and for considering a school closure at the last minute.

Janak said staff has been encouraged to provide suggestions by Christmas. Public input meetings will be scheduled in January. The preliminary budget must be ready for a public hearing in June and the final budget approved in October.

Nancy Kroeger, co-president of the teachers' union, said the budget crisis from last year has never really ended.

Podoll agreed. "It would be great if it all came out of supplies, but it can't," she said.

Janak agreed. "There will be people who are devastated by that five percent," he said.

The district has been keeping a close eye on expenditures, Janak said. Assistant superintendent Katie Bray examined positions left open at the end of last year and decided which positions could remain open, saving the district a half-million dollars, Janak said.

Health care, bus routes and supplies will be other areas closely examined, he said.

Board member Doug Kinniburgh said he hopes budget cutting can spare areas that have previously endured cuts year after year. That would include the music programs.

Janak urged board members to think about suggestions now, not later.

"Our frustration would be, as early as we have started this process, would be in April to have people come forward with things," he said. "If it's 2 a.m. in the morning and something hits you, like it does me, write it down. Don't wait until the preliminary discussion in May."

Contact Kayla Gahagan at 394-8410 or kayla.gahagan@rapidcityjournal.com