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School budget
Attrition would help balance spending plan; taxes would not increase
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com
The Cherokee County School District could leave 61 positions unfilled in order to produce a balanced $59.5 million budget with no tax increase.
Retirements and normal employee turnover would allow the district to save $2 million in expenses, said Dr. Linda Sellars, assistant superintendent for instruction and curriculum. The district will rely on state and federal funds to pay the salaries for some employees so the district can maintain its current programs.
"We have made a significant effort to lower class sizes. Unfortunately, we have not seen the increase in student achievement we had hoped for," Sellars said. "We are looking at every position and have tried to recommend changes that will not duly impact any school or individual position."
Personnel costs make up 90 percent of a preliminary budget that totals $59,586,228 for the 2008-2009 school year. School trustees won't meet to finalize the budget until June after the state budget is approved by lawmakers.
School budgets are funded through property taxes, 1- cent sales tax and federal funds.
An uncertain economic outlook is forcing the district to be cautious in its spending plan for the upcoming school year.
This year's budget goals are to fully fund a 3.85 percent raise for all employees, hold budget expenses to $59 million and increase the reserve fund to 10 percent ($5.9 million).
The average Cherokee County teacher salary will be $47,138 this coming school year. A first-year teacher with a bachelor's degree will make $31,543.
District administrators plan to maintain an average class size of 24 students in elementary through high school. Class sizes would drop to 20 students in the early grades.
"With the 2008-2009 budget, there are several driving forces that create a unique challenge to accomplishing the goals," finance director Ben Childs said. "The economic outlook is not very good based upon information we have received from the Board of Economic Advisors. The current state economy has been related to 2001, when districts across the state received mid-year budget cuts."
Homeowners no longer pay any school operating taxes with last year's passage of Act 388.
A 1-cent sales tax was added to make up the difference. State figures show Act 388 sales tax collections are approximately $8 million behind the state's expectations so far.
The district will review all positions and set budget priorities so it is in the best position to meet its education goals, superintendent Dr. Bill James said.
"Every year we have presented the school board with a balanced budget and taken a close look at our expenses," James said. "This is not anything new. The only thing different is we are talking about it earlier. One thing we will not do is overspend."
BUDGET AT A GLANCE
Here are some expenses in the proposed $59.5 million budget for the 2008-2009 school year:
- THE SUBSTITUTE teacher budget would increase to $500,000. This would be a $200,000 increase over last year.
- COACHES WOULD receive additional pay for state championships. This incentive was presented to school trustees in January. No details on the coaching incentive are in the current budget draft.
- ENERGY AND utility costs would increase $382,000 over the current budget. Finance director Ben Childs said the increase will help cover a rate hike by Duke Energy.
- PROPERTY AND insurance coverage will go up $26,000 due to new school buildings, such as the Gaffney and Blacksburg ninth grade additions.
- $45,000 FOR school resource officers and school security.
- $100,000 FOR homebound instruction.
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