Concerned parents and patrons in the Wright City R-II School District came out in strong numbers to participate in a town hall meeting last week on the district's budget picture. Patrons wanted to have their viewpoints included in a process to help trim expenses as the state's declining revenues spell cuts for schools. The meeting was the second of three this school year focused on district finances. Superintendent Dr. Chris Gaines set the stage for discussion by conducting a mini-clinic on how the district receives, invests and spends its money, and the direct effect the current economy is having on the district. He summed up the struggles of the budget - and those of other districts throughout the state and beyond - by saying "Unemployed people don't pay taxes and they don't buy stuff." For public schools that rely heavily on revenues that flow from the state, as well as local, county and federal income sources, Missouri's current revenue woes are deeply troubling, he said. Gaines walked participants through a snapshot of the state's final tax collection in the 2009 fiscal year, which showed significant declines in individual and corporate income along with franchise taxes for a net 6.9 percent decline in the state's general revenue. A former state budget director described the situation as a "bloodbath," Gaines told the audience. "(This year) doesn't look any better as Missouri looks at projected negative growth in the minus 3 to 6 percent range," he said, quoting the state budget expert. He cited what some call a "structural problem" in state budget planning that in effect is deferring sustainable solutions to education funding in this climate. From 1995 through 2001, the state experienced zero years of negative revenue growth, but from 2002 through 2010, there have been four years of negative growth as spending continued amid the introduction of tax credits to help a struggling economy going back to the burst of the Internet. Against this shrinking revenue backdrop, Gaines said the district must find ways to cut expenses. He passed out a thick 183-item list and value analysis of ideas that have been generated to date by school leaders, staff and others. Participants were asked to review the list and suggest which would be their top picks for cutting as they broke into small discussion groups. One cost-cutting idea that received the most votes was to have Wright City East Elementary start their day within 10 minutes of the other elementary facility to enable both to run on the same bus route. The estimated cost reduction involved in redundant bus service would be $105,000. Other expense-saving ideas included changing the thermostats by one degree for seasonal savings of $3,000, elimination of communications devices such as Blackberries, and reductions in progress report mailings. One participant who stood and spoke offered a long-term solution. "We need more businesses here that can provide jobs and wages for our tax base," said the woman. "If you don't have a job and have to choose between heating your home, feeding your kids and paying property taxes, it's the taxes that are going to go." Gaines said recommendations on cost savings - including community input - will be presented to the school board at its March 23 meeting.