It has been nine months without a state budget and some school districts across the state are preparing for the worst.

Some are looking into consolidating for the 2016-2017 school year. Others are worried they will not make it to April.

Auditor General Eugene DePasquale is currently working on a report he will officially release in April about how the state budget impasse is impacting our schools.

Monday he released a statement saying the half year funding school districts received through December may have gotten many schools over the hump, but that funding is running out fast.

A previous report found school districts and intermediate units had borrowed about $1 billion before the partial budget came through in December.

Borrowing that much money has racked up almost $50 million in interest in fees.

DePasquale said many schools are considering tough decisions to keep classrooms open.  Some are looking at borrowing more money, increasing real estate tax, cutting academic or extracurricular activities, and laying off staff.

Some school district superintendents in our area said they are concerned about what their budgets will look like for the next school year if they stay open.  A few added they are worried consolidation may not be feasible if necessary.