Local cuts could run as high as $8 million over the next two years as state revenues continue to dip and Dalton Public Schools’ income picture sharpens.
Schools spokeswoman Deana Farmer said officials’ goal is to reduce expenses by $6 million to as much as $8 million at the “upper end of the range.”
Ms. Farmer said officials are working on a three-year budget reduction plan based on projected funding shortfalls.
“Right now, we’re still in the planning process,” she said.
The Associated Press reported Monday that state tax collections in Georgia dropped for the 15th straight month and were 10 percent behind the same month last year. Tax collections are lagging 12.7 percent, or about $1.3 billion, for the fiscal year ending June 30.
BY THE NUMBERSBudgeted expenditures2008-2009: $63.9 million2009-2010: $59.6 millionSource: Dalton Public SchoolsBALANCING ACT TILTSIn fiscal years 2003-2009, state austerity cuts to Dalton Public Schools’ funding totaled $17.1 million. For fiscal years 2009 and 2010, a combined total of nearly $2.5 million was paid to Dalton schools through the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act.Source: Dalton Public Schools
Gov. Sonny Perdue is expected to further lower revenue estimates this week, the AP reported.
Dalton Schools Superintendent Jim Hawkins asked employees to help carve $5 million from the budget to avoid scuttling school programs.
School board Chairman Steve Williams said employees have formed committees and will report further cost saving ideas to the board over the next few weeks.
“We’re fearful the Legislature is going to cut us more and more and we’ve already been cut millions of dollars over the last six years,” Mr. Williams said, referring to more than $17 million in austerity cuts to state funding since 2003.
Officials say $2.5 million in federal stimulus funds does not offset the loss.
“I fully appreciate the fact that we’ve had tremendous economic problems but, at some point, the state’s going to have to belly up to the bar and realize that public education is an absolute necessity to the progress of this state,” Mr. Williams said.