Bellaire Board of Education members are facing perhaps the most difficult decisions they — or any of their predecessors for many years in the past — have had to make. We do not envy them because, from their point of view, nothing they can do can avoid adverse impact on the school system. School officials are attempting to cope with a grim budget forecast. The district is expected to have a budget deficit of $1.27 million by the end of the current fiscal year. It gets worse: By the 2010-11 year, the deficit is expected to increase to $2.5 million. Superintendent Tony Scott presented a plan including $650,000 in spending cuts to the board this week. Obviously, that is not enough. In September, the state auditor’s office placed the district on “fiscal watch” status, directing officials to come up with a balanced spending plan within 60 days. Local school officials have asked for a 30-day extension. If they are unable to comply with the auditor’s directive within that time, the district may be placed in “fiscal emergency” status. Options for dealing with the situation are limited. Either the board can approve more spending cuts or it can find additional revenue. It was suggested during the meeting this week that school board members may want to ask Bellaire voters to approve a new tax levy to keep the district afloat. But Scott pointed out that Bellaire voters have not approved a new operating levy since 1976.