RATHDRUM - Lakeland School District's fiscal 2012 school budget includes cuts to four support staff, four less certified staff and elimination of golf at both high schools.

The $23.4 million general fund budget is about 3.5 percent less than the district's current budget.

"We tried to not cut things that would hurt kids, but we reached the point where we had no other choice," said Tom Taggart, the district's finance director. "Overall, there's less impact on staff that I thought there would be when we started."

Three part-time aide jobs were cut along with a half-time technology support position.

Taggart said four certified positions vacated by retirees or employees moving on won't be filled. He said an elementary librarian position, vacant due to retirement, will also not be refilled and handled by aides instead.

With extracurricular activities, the golf programs at Lakeland and Timberlake high schools have been cut and that budget has been reduced 10 percent overall.

"There were lengthy discussions (about the golf decision),"

Taggart said. "The ADs (athletic directors) didn't want to cut the programs and we didn't either. But there's not a lot of people involved for the cost and there was a feeling that there's also opportunities for students to play golf outside of school."

Taggart said there's still a possibility that the programs will continue, however, either with community support or if state surplus funding comes through in July or both.

"I have a feeling the issue will get worked out down the road," he said.

Taggart said he's heard that Lakeland may receive between $650,000 and $750,000 in state surplus funds in July.

If that happens, some or all three of the teacher furlough days, as agreed upon in the agreement between the district and teachers union, will be eliminated.

"I'm pretty confident that at least two of the days will be paid back," Taggart said.

The teachers agreement also freezes pay bumps for education for the second straight year and experience for the third year, but there's a chance the education portion will be restored with surplus funds, Taggart said.

"Even though times are tough, we did the best we could for staff," said Taggart, adding that eliminating furlough days is high on the priority list for surplus funding. "It's not fun going on a third year without any kind of pay change. Our priority is keeping people working. It's better for kids if instructional days are kept intact."

Taggart said some districts across the state face an even tougher budget situation.

He said Lakeland may add staff in September if student enrollment increases.

Half of the extracurricular cut may also be restored with surplus funds.

The district's federal stimulus funding runs out this year. That was about $800,000 over the past two years.

Three representatives from the teachers union attended the public hearing on the budget on Monday night, but did not speak. No one from the general public attended the hearing.