The Dougherty County School Finance Committee proposes a budget with no tax increase, fewer teacher furlough days, and no school closures.
Despite some fairly deep spending cuts, the proposed budget would actually increase by about a million dollars to nearly $117 million.
There was a two million dollar shortfall when the School finance committee started working on next year's budget, but because of 101 vacant teacher positions they saved enough in salaries to limit next year's cuts.
The main goal for the proposed Dougherty County School budget was no tax increase, but to make budget through cuts, and the finance committee thinks they have done it.
"Everybody struggles now. So if we can keep our tax bases down, our millage rate, then all the better," said School Board Member Carol Tharin.
With 101 vacant teacher positions, the school system found they did not spend as much reserve money this year.
"We anticipated using about $3.7 million in our reserves. We project having to spend about one and a quarter million. So we have some savings, you could call it, from this year we can apply to next year," said Director of Finance Ken Dyer.
The proposed budget would eliminate 26 teaching positions and nine paraprofessional positions that are already vacant. They would also eliminate one counselor position at the middle schools, one police officer, reduce police overtime by 10%, and combine low enrollment classes. The foreign language programs at two elementary schools would also be cut.
"No cuts are without pain, but I think we've been wise in. The Superintendent has done a good job in helping us come up with some cuts," Tharin said.
"Not across the board cuts, but per say targeted and strategic cuts that will minimize impact on the classroom, and the ability to educate the children," Dyer said.
The number of furlough days for employees would be reduced from ten this year to six.
The finance committee unanimously approved the proposal this morning and will present it to the entire board of education Monday. If they tentatively approve it, two public hearings will be held before a final vote on June 27.
Board members didn't talk about the controversial hiring of contractors today.
The school board attorney is investigating a list of questionable contracts administrators agreed to without getting school board approval, apparently in violation of system policy.
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Director of Finance Ken Dyer
School Board Member Carol Tharin
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