After at least three months of conversations around how to accommodate a funding shortfall, the Hamilton County school board passed its budget Thursday despite concerns from some that it does not seek additional funds that the district needs.
The balanced budget approved in an 8-3 vote removes half a position of the principal’s choosing from every school, reduces benchmark testing from three times a year to once and cuts $5.3 million from the central office. It now heads to the Hamilton County Commission, which serves as the funding body for the district, for approval.
School board members Karitsa Jones, Ben Connor and Jill Black — all Democrats from Chattanooga — voted against passing the budget.
The final budget balances a $16.2 million deficit, which district officials have attributed to a combination of lower-than-expected local tax revenues and rising costs, particularly a $12.5 million increase in health care.