Volume I, No. 5

December 4, 2008

Deferred Maintenance Program Funding At-Risk

To address California’s most recent budget deficit that emerged after the signing of the 2008-09 State Budget, the Governor and particularly the Legislature are considering proposals that would further cut spending for programs and increase taxes. The Deferred Maintenance Program (DMP) funding is in jeopardy.   

Specifically, the final version of the 2008-09 State Budget included $277 million to fund the DMP, but as a result of this next round of likely funding cuts, the DMP funding is at-risk of being eliminated in the current and budget years.  The possible elimination of DMP funding is of particular significance to school maintenance and operations departments that have DMP projects awaiting funding on the State Allocation Board (SAB) agenda in January 2009.  In light of some of the budget “flexibility proposals” currently being discussed that would reduce or eliminate contributions to the Routine Restricted Maintenance Account (RRMA), protecting the DMP funding becomes all the more important.    

For districts concerned about protecting DMP funding, we urge you to contact your State Senate and Assembly representatives to request support for full funding of the DMP to ensure that local districts have the minimum resources necessary to address critical school health and safety maintenance needs, and to retain improvements made to the health and safety conditions of schools as a result of the required Williams inspections and the Emergency Repair Program (ERP).

~Ian Padilla

ipadilla@m-w-h.com