Whidbey Island school superintendents are troubled by a budget proposal by Gov. Christine Gregoire that slashes millions in funds for public schools.

In a recent release, the governor outlined a plan for balancing the $2.6 billion shortfall using only the state’s existing tax streams.

Among the possible cuts are $78.5 million for a voter-approved measure to lower class sizes and $142.9 million in levy equalization payments.

Together, the cuts could cost the Oak Harbor School District as much as $2 million, and over $200,000 for Coupeville schools.

“Since we’ve had previous cuts, this is on top of those cuts,” Oak Harbor Superintendent Rick Schulte said. “This isn’t going to be pretty.”

While the numbers are staggering, Schulte and Coupeville Superintendent Patty Page said the cuts weren’t unexpected. Money was set aside from previous budgets, but it wouldn’t cover the costs completely.

“There may be ways to offset it. When enrollment came in higher, one thing I did was set some of the money aside for reserve. I didn’t set aside $2 million, but $300,000,” Schulte said.

Based on Gregoire’s proposal, a major impact to Oak Harbor would be reductions to levy equalization. The school district relies on these funds because of its small property-tax base.

Schulte said this, and another proposal on the table to increase the levy lid, only aggravates differences between rich and poor districts.

The governor’s office proposed to raise the percentage of expenditures that can come from the levy from 24 to 36 percent, Schulte said.

“That might be great for districts that can easily pass a levy because they’re property rich. But there’s no way a district like Oak Harbor, in today’s climate and along with many other districts would have the desire to raise taxes by 50 percent,” he said. “That proposal to move state responsibility to raise money for schools to local taxpayers is a bad idea.”

In Coupeville, the proposed budget would have significant impacts, Page said, because the district is also predicting a declined enrollment next year. The district stands to lose about $126,000 in the cuts to K-4 enhanced funding, or money to lower class sizes in early grades.

“We will still have increases in costs next year. We have prepared to be frugal in our spending,” Page said.

However, both superintendents have a wait-and-see attitude for now.

The numbers could be reduced by January as Gregoire develops a new proposal. She plans to release a supplemental budget proposal next month that will still include cuts, but will also include new tax revenue.

“The governor said she’ll submit another proposal so we take this first draft for what it is, a draft,” Schulte said. “It’s still too early for us to panic.”

The Washington State Legislature convenes Jan. 11.