Fiscal Conservatism: Balanced Budgets and Creating Strong and Efficient Educational Programs Within Our Financial Means

By Tim Cary

I am strongly fiscally conservative; I believe EDUHSD must have a fiscally sound, balanced budget, with ample financial reserves. My experience and knowledge of California school district financing gives me the ability to lead on District financial issues.

I have the experience to lead on District fiscal issues, and a history of leading:

• Experience working at the US General Accounting Office in Washington D.C., analyzing government financial and budgetary issues.
• Experience negotiating all financial aspects of labor agreements as chief labor negotiator for school districts and public agencies.
• Sixteen years school board experience, including five years as Board president.
• Extensive experience in employment law and public sector law.
• Experience since 1998 in managing my own law firm that serves many school districts and public entities.

I joined the EDUHSD Board in December 2001, shortly before it discovered a budgeting problem that led to the need to take strong corrective action. I led the fight to obtain real answers, strong solutions, and to demand accountability in correcting the problems. The District today is in an extremely strong fiscal position as a result of the corrections and reforms that we instituted.

Managing the District's $65 million annual budget requires the skills needed to run a large business, and the knowledge necessary to understand complex California and federal school funding rules. I have the experience to understand and oversee the District's finances, and my leadership has been vital to resolving the District's financial issues and putting it in its current extremely strong fiscal position.