SEEDS OF POLITICAL BATTLES IN 2010 ARE TAKING SHAPE
Like the recently approved city-wide fiscal budget, where numerous one-time sources of funds were used to balance the budget, the San Leandro School Board is using the same gambit in the face of an uncertain economic landscape in the future.

The San Leandro Times reported the district assistant superintendent said, “we are deficit spending.” According to the article, the bulk of the one-time funds came from the Federal Stimulus bill to the tune of $2.2 million.

The Daily Review painted a bleaker situation for the district if the state goes through with plans to cut education by over $4 billion next year. The Times also said employees are being asked to double up duties while some administrative absences are to be covered by other staff instead of substitutes.

The political crystal ball seems to be saying the day of reckoning for some leaders looking for re-election in the Fall of 2010 may well be tied to the health of the economy and how treacherous local budgets appear to the electorate in the next 16 months. Local officials are betting on taking the hit later rather than sooner.