Oregon Public Broadcasting

The Portland school district anticipates balancing next year’s budget without deep cuts, according to a proposal Superintendent Carole Smith presented Monday night. But, Smith is basing that budget on a few assumptions.

She says the legislature will have to spend at least $6.4 billion on schools -- some of it from state reserves.

Carole Smith: “This is a defining moment for public education in Oregon, and for this nation. And we must continue to advocate for the resources necessary to ensure each and every one of our students are successfully prepared for college, work, and life, when they leave our schools.”

Smith’s budget also balances thanks to $26 million in federal stimulus money.  Then there's the Portland district's proposal  that nearly all of its employee groups give up cost of living increases for next year.

The teachers' union says it's weighing that idea, but wants people to remember that its members voluntarily worked ten days without pay in 2003 to help solve an earlier budget crunch. 

Even if all that falls into place, the district would still cut about 40 jobs.

The Portland school board won’t vote on the budget until May 4th.