The Jackson County School System is facing some grim financial news, the board of education learned on Monday. After cutting $4 million in its proposed 2009-2010 budget through layoffs, furloughs and closing the Regional Evening School, another $3 million cut may be needed. And that may still leave the school system with an estimated $2 million deficit by the end of next fiscal year.
“Make no mistake — we’re between a rock and a hard place,” said Jeff Sanchez, assistant superintendent for finance and support services for the school system.
Low revenues make more county school cuts likely
While there are a number of factors impacting the budget, there are two key problems – less money coming from the state and lower-than-expected revenue from local property taxes.
Superintendent Shannon Adams said those two factors make it the “perfect storm to impact our budget in a very negative way.”
On Monday, the Jackson County Board of Education adopted its tentative 2009-2010 budget for $89.3 million — about $1.3 million less from last year’s budget of $90.6 million. The BOE is expected to adopt a finalized budget in October.
Meanwhile, the school board approved a short-term Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) from Regions Bank for $14.5 million until tax revenue is collected later in the year. But without a miracle, Sanchez said the district’s general fund budget will end the 2008-2009 fiscal year on June 30 with a deficit, although he didn’t know what amount.
For the complete story, the June 10 issue of The Jackson Herald.
Superintendent Shannon Adams said those two factors make it the “perfect storm to impact our budget in a very negative way.”
On Monday, the Jackson County Board of Education adopted its tentative 2009-2010 budget for $89.3 million — about $1.3 million less from last year’s budget of $90.6 million. The BOE is expected to adopt a finalized budget in October.
Meanwhile, the school board approved a short-term Tax Anticipation Note (TAN) from Regions Bank for $14.5 million until tax revenue is collected later in the year. But without a miracle, Sanchez said the district’s general fund budget will end the 2008-2009 fiscal year on June 30 with a deficit, although he didn’t know what amount.
For the complete story, the June 10 issue of The Jackson Herald.
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I hope you're plan isn't to raise taxes to recoupe your short fall. It's time the school board to wake up a and find a way to work with what they have just like the working people of Jackson County must do. Maybe if so much wasteful spending hadn't occurred in the past there would be some savings to carry us through these difficult times?? How did the school system survive 15, 20, 30, or 40 years ago when the school budget was under a measly million dollars. Possibly we should return to the past when our "Big & fancy" school dreams didn't exceed out slim & empty wallets!
Does the school system still run two bus routes each day? How are the sports programs funded? What other unnecessary "programs" are still being ran? All I expect the school system to do is teach our childer to read, write, & do arithmetic while keeping them safe! Anything beyond this is unnecessary spending!
Is this standard school practice?
Is it a safety precaution?
I don't believe the city does this?
Could that help the school finances at all?
And even in the mornings the buses are to crowded and there are students who stand up and have to sit in the aisles.