Education officials fear that cuts to public education may go deeper than the governor's recommendation of $40 million as the economy continues to worsen.

Gov. Linda Lingle is proposing cutting the state Department of Education's budget by slightly more than $40 million a year for the next two years, according to her executive budget sent to the state Legislature yesterday.

Her cuts largely resemble the Board of Education's budget reduction plan submitted in October in response to her request that all state agencies plan for up to 20 percent in cuts.

The $40 million a year for two years represents about 12 percent of the public school system's discretionary budget.

But education officials said yesterday that they fear the economy will continue to worsen and that the state Legislature will have to cut more than what the governor has proposed.

"The whole amount that the Legislature is going to have to cut statewide will probably be more than what the governor originally thought," said Adele Chong, budget director for the DOE.

Chong pointed out that typically lawmakers appropriate more money for education than what the governor recommends. However, that was when state tax revenues were up.

"I think it's still theoretically possible, but I don't think it's probable," Chong said.

The recommended budget cuts don't affect school-level programs and staff, Chong said. If cuts were to go beyond, however, it would likely have to come from the classroom.

If the DOE needed to cut 20 percent — about $69 million — schools could suffer a loss of $222 per student.

Currently, the weighted student formula allots about $4,150 per student, and then adds more money based on student demographics or needs.

The budget cuts represent an elimination of dozens of programs and about 239 positions at the state and complex level.

However, state Rep. Roy Takumi, chairman of the House Education Committee, pinpointed some proposed cuts that are likely to be scrutinized by lawmakers.

For instance, of the 239 positions proposed to be cut, 83 are resource teacher positions spread throughout various divisions within the DOE. Takumi said lawmakers will be looking closely at the impact of cutting those teachers.

"In the past, the governor has not included money for necessities ... knowing full well that the Legislature must restore those budget items," Takumi said.

"We would have to go over her budget line by line."

Takumi said the governor's $40 million recommendation is a starting point and the Legislature may cut less, or may cut more.

"We base our budget on the Council on Revenues' projections. They usually have a report in March and then we adjust the budget appropriately," Takumi said.