Kentucky’s nearly billion-dollar shortfall for 2010 is putting a strain on many sectors of government and public works, but education faces perhaps the greatest threat. Local school districts have already seen their share of budget cuts last year and things could be just as tough this year. Superintendents say that until the shortfall in education is filled, their district budget forecasts are still up in the air.

Governor Steve Beshear warned at the end of 2009 that the state's budget outlook could be over $1.4 billion short of meeting obligations during the 2010-12 period.

Beshear presented to the state legislature an increase of SEEK funding and proposed shoring up $800 million over two years to come through gambling. His budget proposal assumes approximately $780 million in revenue from video lottery terminals over the next two years. 

Several state senators have already expressed vehement opposition to the proposal.

Middlesboro Independent Schools Superintendent Rita Cook said she didn’t think the gambling measures would pass.

“I don’t believe it will,” she said.

But in order to shore up the massive deficit, Cook said something would have to get through.

“The state’s going to have to come up with an alternative, whether it be gambling or revisiting the tax code in order to raise revenues,” said Cook.

She said the stimulus funds for education will run out after this year.

The Bell County School District is planning their draft budget for 2010, but Superintendent George Thompson said they’re still not sure how the budget will be dealt with.

“It’s still unknown. There’s no way to know how this is going to end. We’re hoping for the best, but bracing for worst,” said Thompson.

Pineville Independent School Superintendent Mike White could not be reached for comment.

Both Cook and Thompson said the only place left to cut would be staffing.

“We have cut back on just about all the programs,” said Cook. “There are a few left to look at. But we’re to the point where we have to look at staffing options. We have to be realistic.”

Cook said right now the district is taking every precaution to prevent that.

“We want to be proactive and not be caught off guard,” said Cook.

Some possibilities Thompson had heard included relying on local districts to cover costs, similarly to how districts had to cover the state-mandated 1 percent raise for teachers. He also said it was possible the state could restructure the tax code.

Thompson said they would hopefully find out in a few weeks what the plan would be, but right now it was just “a big question mark.”

When asked if he thought the state would make any more drastic cuts to education, Thompson said he hoped not.

“I want to believe they will protect education,” said Thompson.

He said State Representative Rick Nelson was working hard to preserve school funding Frankfort.

Gov. Beshear had this to say in a press release regarding the deficit:

“Cuts of this magnitude would undoubtedly lead to mass layoffs and would inflict devastating damage on literally hundreds of critical services to communities and individuals around the Commonwealth, such as prenatal care, water permits, air quality inspections, social workers and fire inspections of public facilities like day-care centers and schools.”

Stephen Woodward is a Staff Writer for the Daily News. He may be contacted at swoodward@middlesborodailynews.com.