Thursday, May 29, 2008
The School Board has approved a revised draft of its budget for consideration by the Montgomery County Commission. Budget reductions for FY 2008-09 will be necessary due to the decrease both in local ($428,641.) and state ($5,727,256.) revenue. This reduced revenue has resulted in a 2.9% budget reduction from the April 1 draft. A total of $5.3 million was needed to be cut from the budget in order to match adjusted revenue projections and present a balanced budget. Click here to review the revised draft.
The County Commission’s Finance Committee will review the budget and make recommendations to the Commission.
As these budget reductions were made, the focus throughout the presentation was, "Cut things---not people;" and hold fast to research proven methods of improving student achievement and graduation rates.
All positions and programs originally listed in the budgeted priority two category have been cut. Additionally, the following areas were reduced:
Technology |
$2,061,550 (which includes all new model classrooms, new technology programs and initiatives – only high priority hardware/software will be purchased) |
| Instruction | $1,542,535 (Writing Project, Reduction of funds for after school programs, .5 Read 180 Teacher, 1.0 Literacy Coach, *Special Ed. And Regular Instructional Supplies/Library Books, Student Attendance Awards, Staff Development, Textbooks--Science Adoption cut for K-2) *BEP funds will still be available for special ed./regular instruction. |
| Operations | $758,377 (A large part of this reduction was to reduce the number of 22 custodians added the previous year, to 12 positions.) |
| Maintenance | $205,072 |
| Communications | $39,000 |
| Business Affairs | $131,630 |
| Human Resources | $102,278 (On the Job Injury (OJI) Claims and Staff Development-New Teacher Induction Training were the areas cut from this department.) |
Other areas impacted by these reductions:
- No funding from the state for COLA (Cost of Living Allowance)
- The new BEP formula activated last year with the intent of implementing it over a period of three years (three phases) will not proceed forward.
- Fewer enrollment growth dollars (The school system had projected an increased enrollment of 500 students. 350 students was the final count.)
Funding has not yet been identified for about $2.4 million for 29 state mandated school buses.
