40% of San Diego County school districts project deficits

Enrollment declines and rising costs have resulted in all but six of San Diego County’s 42 school districts projecting a fiscal deficit either this  school year or within the next two, the San Diego Union Tribune reported Sunday.

School districts mainly cited lower enrollment and attendance as the reasons for the expected shortfalls, the Tribune reported. Districts are grappling with growing costs for retirement benefits, special education services, goods and labor on tighter budgets.

Seventeen districts in the county anticipate running a deficit all three years.

Two North County districts, Oceanside Unified and San Marcos Unified, were put on the state’s financial watch list, the Tribune reported, meaning they may run out of cash and would not be able to make their financial commitments over the next two years.