APS needs to cut $18.8 million more

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Just a-month-and-half after Albuquerque Public Schools looked for every possible way to cut its budget without letting teachers go, the district is in a big hole again.
Superintendent Winston Brooks announced Wednesday night that he estimates APS will have to cut another 18.8 million dollars by September 1st.
Six weeks ago, APS approved the fiscal year 2011 budget after cutting $43 million dollars.
But, government agencies and public school districts in New Mexico were told Tuesday they will have to cut 3.2 percent more from this years budget to make up for lower than expected gross receipt taxes.
Brooks learned of the cuts Wednesday afternoon and called an emergency meeting of APS district leaders.
He has told them to begin thinking about what cuts will have to be made in the district.
News 13 caught up with Brooks following Wednesday night's school board meeting and asked him if there's any way the district will be able to avoid layoffs this time around.
"It was miraculous, quite frankly, that we were able to save jobs without giving pink slips (six weeks ago)." Brooks said.
"We did cut 4-hundred-thirty-some positions in the district, but we did that through attrition. Whether we can continue to do that, I"m just not very optimistic. I'd hate to really comment one way or the other on that, at least until I have time to sleep on it to think about it."
Brooks heads to Santa Fe tomorrow to confirm if the additional cuts will amount to $18.8 million.
He says he will meet again with his district leaders on Friday morning.