Posted at: 11/04/2009 2:40 PM
By: Dan Conradt

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Austin Referendum Fails, Focuses Attention on Budget

(ABC 6 NEWS) – The Austin School District's new referendum was voted down last night, and that's got officials eyeing the budget. The money would have gone into the district's general fund, which pays for day-to-day operations.

"80 percent of that is made up of salaries and benefits, so to really take a look at that situation you have to look at personnel," says Austin Superintendent David Krenz.

The school district will also look at increasing class sizes, something it's already been doing.

"We felt we were at a level with our classroom sizes that any further increase would start harming the education of our students," says Krenz.

The only programs untouchable by local budget cuts would be those that are protected by state statute, like special education.

Watch ABC 6 News tonight at 5:00 for the story with ABC 6 News reporter Dan Conradt.