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Chancellor Dennis Walcott indicated today that he wants his central administration to take the brunt of midyear budget cuts.

But he did not explain how the Department of Education would be able to handle even deeper cuts that Mayor Bloomberg said are on the way for next year, when the city faces a $4.6 billion shortfall.

Yesterday, Bloomberg instructed city agencies to figure out how to cut 2 percent from their current budget and 6 percent from next year’s projected budget. He included the DOE in his directive, unlike last year, when he insulated schools and public safety from the full extent of midyear cuts imposed on other agencies.

Walcott said today that DOE officials had already started talking with the city’s Office of Management and Budget about ways to cut spending. Proposals are due Oct. 18.

“I’m confident that we’ll be able to submit something and have that announcement in time for the deadline,” he said. “What we’re doing is working collectively with our staff to find where savings could be and make sure we’re minimizing the impact to schools.”

Midyear budget cuts are doubly disruptive to schools because most expenses are fixed for the whole year, meaning that only certain costs, such as after-school programs or tutoring, can go on the chopping block.

And this year, many principals are operating with less of a cushion against midyear cuts. (more…)