OAKLAND, Calif. – The Oakland Unified School District has a spending problem.

For the second time in the last two decades, district officials are facing a massive budget deficit tied to overspending that’s forcing administrators and school board members to make “tough decisions” about student program cuts and other measures to balance the budget, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

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A $37 million deficit in 2003 prompted the state to seize control of OUSD and provide a record $100 million bailout that’s not scheduled to be fully repaid until 2026. Less than 14 years later, OUSD officials find themselves in virtually the same predicament – scrambling to plug a $30 million gap between planned spending and expected revenues for next school year.

The Chronicle used a shopping analogy to illustrate the situation.

“It’s as if the district has loaded up the shopping cart with costly commitments and proposed programs, but is now standing at the cash register with an empty wallet and a nearly maxed-out credit card,” according to the news site.

“If it wants what’s in the cart, it’s going to have to figure out what bills will go unpaid.”

School board members have yet to review the details of the district’s financials, but are expected to learn more about the deficit through a series of public budget meetings this month.

“I’m still waiting to understand this better,” board member Jody London said. “I do expect there will be less money than we’ve had in the recent past, and the board will be making some tough decisions.”

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District insiders told the Chronicle the budget gap could be as much as $30 million, while others suggested it could be less than 25 million. Superintendent Antwan Wilson told the Chronicle the problem stems from a combination of issues, from the cost of special education programs, to declining student enrollment, to a new $800,000 expanded preschool program slated to start next year.

Others pointed to the superintendent, who came to the district in 2014 and will leave to head the Washington D.C. school system next year, for driving up costs.

The Post News Group reports:

Board member Roseann Torres said the problem is not just due to programs like special education, which are required by state and federal law but is tied to the administration’s over-spending. 

“We don’t need more outside consultants, we don’t need to double the salaries of classified supervisors,” she said pointing to the large increase in the numbers of top level employees and cost of the district’s communications department. 

One official told the Post that under Wilson, central office departments have been reduced in total numbers, such as the payroll department which has gone from 13 to six employees. 

But at the same time, the numbers of cabinet level officials and directors and their pay have grown dramatically. 

One observer criticized the school board for refusing to lay the blame for the deficit at Wilson’s feet, saying the deficit was created during his two-and-a-half year tenure in Oakland.

School board president James Harris told the Chronicle the district’s central administration soaks up $32.5 million of the district’s $405 million operating budget, and he’s hoping to cut those costs by about $12.

He said board members will also consider consolidating schools and other options to keep cuts from impacting students directly.

“If you don’t want to repeat history, you’re going to have to make decisions,” he said. “It’s a come-to-Jesus moment that’s got to happen.”