COMPTON — The Compton Unified School District on Tuesday balanced its budget for fiscal year 2009-10 without any layoffs, despite a projected $30 million deficit over the next three years.

And while roughly 120 layoff notices for this fiscal year were rescinded and additional employees — mainly teachers — have been hired, officials say “massive” layoffs are inevitable for 2010-11.

“The layoffs for 10-11 are definitely going to happen,” said Superintendent Kaye Burnside. “The level of layoffs will have everything to do with our ability to decrease our spending,” adding that “our budget is over 80 percent people,” including salaries and benefits.

More than 20 new hires have been made since March, according to city staff reports.

“I can’t understand how we are talking about laying off [people] when we are hiring for new positions,” said board member Mae Thomas. “I don’t plan … to lay off one person when we are hiring unless it comes from the top.”

“If we are going to cut, we need to cut and don’t keep hiring and bringing in people in the district,” she added. “We had a rally not too long ago to save departments money but I don’t see where we are saving. I see where we are creating more jobs.”

But according to Burnside, layoffs “will have to happen or we will go into a deficit completely,” she said. “And then what will happen is that the state will come in and they will lay the people off. But either way, either we increase our income [or] decrease our expenditures.”

A June 30 staff report stated that salaries for certificated — such as teachers and administration — employees will likely make up $89 million in 2009-10 fiscal year expenditures, $83.6 million for 2010-11 and $85.4 for 2011-12; while salaries for classified — such as janitors, secretaries and electrical workers — employees will account for $24.8 million for 2009-10, $21.9 million for 2010-11 and $22.3 for 2011-12.

Over the next three years, employee benefits are expected to make up close to $99 million of expenditures, services and other operating expenditures will make up approximately $44 million and books and supplies will account for roughly $8 million.

To reduce costs, the district is expected to make $5.3 million in cuts to certificated and classified positions. The budget reflects “a reduction in 2010-11 of $3.4 million certificated and $1.9 million classified [employees],” said board member Micah Ali. “We are looking at close to $6 million in rifts.”

He added that for every 18 teachers the district lays off, they will save about $1 million. Therefore, the district is looking at possibly laying off more than 90 employees.

“We will be taking a good, hard look at further reductions and enhancements,” Associate Superintendent Deborah Willard said. “So that we can make sure that we do not continue to deficit spend at this rate.”

Ali, who voted for the budget Tuesday, said “While I extended my support to pass the budget, I must continue to advocate fiscal frugality. … I challenge the Board of Trustees to consider an aggressive policy geared toward reducing expenditures like unnecessary modular trailers used to house district administration.”

He also suggested that real cost-saving measures could come from cutting back on the number of contracts within the district, saying the “district is full of contracts,” which cost millions every year. On Tuesday, for example, the district approved a one-year contract with Air Ex Air Conditioning that is not to exceed $200,000.

Prior to its approval, some board members — including Ali and Joel Estrada — suggested that when looking for contractors, staff should seek bidders who can perform the same duties but at a lower cost.

Burnside proposed that the district look into sending back a number of storage containers that are not being used but that the district is paying “hundreds of thousands of dollars [for] and for some of them there is literally nothing in them but we pay for them every month.” In addition, she mentioned moving some staff from portable buildings and transferring them to other facilities within the district.

“As a fiscal watchdog, I … champion greater fiscal controls and prudence, which will be sorely needed as the district braces monumental reductions in force,” board member Satra Zurita said.