School Board OKs $3.87-Billion Budget

The Los Angeles Board of Education on Monday approved a balanced $3.87-billion spending plan for the 1989-90 school year. Officials described the budget as austere, even though it exceeds last year’s by $304 million.

The budget was approved on a 5-0 vote. Board members Julie Korenstein and Warren Furutani were absent.

Among the largest expenditures are $1.8 billion for salaries--including $1.2 billion for teachers--$26.3 million for instructional materials and supplies, and $25.7 million for textbooks. The board also set aside $24.7 million for economic uncertainties and $2 million for basic operations.

Nearly 75% of the district’s revenues come from the state, including a projected $112 million in the coming year from the state lottery. More than 80% of the lottery funds will be used to help pay for employee salaries and benefits.

In order to balance the budget, the board cut about $56 million, which included reductions in lottery funds given directly to individual schools, in central office spending and in a reserve for potential liabilities. No new instructional programs were funded. Officials said the massive reductions were necessary because of salary raises, which included an 8% increase for teachers and administrators.