KTKA

Topeka — The state could save money by merging school districts, but those consolidations could also produce problems, an audit released Monday said.

The audit neither recommended for or against the state requiring districts consolidate.

Because of the slumping economy, state officials cut the budget by $1 billion last year, and are facing another $400 million revenue shortfall.

Currently, there are 293 school districts, and many lawmakers say merging districts could save tax dollars.

The report by the Legislative Division of Post Audit agreed. “The analyses we performed in this audit showed that reorganizing the system so there are fewer school districts has the potential to significantly reduce the cost of the system overall,” the audit said.

The report developed two consolidation scenarios. Under one, the number of districts would be reduced to 266, and under the other, districts with fewer than 1,600 students would be merged, reducing the number of districts to 152.

The proposals would save $18 million and $138 million, respectively, the audit said.

But those savings would come with a cost. More students would have to be transported and travel longer distances, and some districts would need new buildings. Many districts would lose more money in state funding than they would save by reducing operating expenditures, the report said.

“Equally significant issues would need to be addressed before any widespread reorganization could happen, including the impact on students, individual districts, and local communities,” the audit said.

Deputy Education Commissioner Dale Dennis said there was little new in the report. There are financial incentives for districts to consolidate voluntarily. “The Legislature has been hesitant to mandate this in the past,” Dennis said.