The Cherokee County School District has gotten a reprieve from school budget cuts for now.

The state Budget and Control Board decided Thursday to delay a decision on making budget cuts until it receives a new revenue forecast this week. The Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) has reduced revenue projections by $328 million since lawmakers passed the present budget in May.

Superintendent Dr. Bill James informed school trustees at last week's school board meeting the district anticipated a 4 to 5 percent cut from this year's $61.7 million school budget. The budget took effect July 1.

The school district received $3.6 million in state budget cuts during the 2008- 2009 school year. A 5 percent state revenue cut would have cost the Cherokee County School District $1 million in this year's school budget before classes started Monday.

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Hugh Leatherman said he wants to wait for more information about state revenues before the state Budget and Control Board makes additional budget cuts.

"I frankly think, in this particular instance, the people of this state are better served if we wait and see what the BEA comes out with," Leatherman said. "Once we cut, we cannot go back."

Cherokee County School Board Chairman Billy Blackwell said he was encouraged by the move to delay a decision on additional school budget cuts.

Blackwell said the district is running out of options for cutting money from the budget without impacting school employees.

About 90 percent of the school district's budget goes to salaries and benefits. The district has already scaled back education programs such as 4-year-old kindergarten and dipped heavily into its reserve funds to keep the budget balanced. While planning this year's budget, school principals were asked to reduce their expenses by 5 percent.

"We are glad the state has postponed making any budget cuts. We hope things will turn around with the economy," Blackwell said. "We have moved teachers around to different positions and used the state's school funding flexibility in the budget because we want to keep our people working."

(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)