School system wants more money: Officials say funds needed to avoid layoffs
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In all, the budget totals $38.6 million, which is $2 million above last year’s total. Director of Schools Dr. Jerry Hale said the increases are normal operating increases which include salary step increases as well as capital outlay money for improvements to Nunley Stadium and the middle school auditorium.
The most controversial increase, however, is the aforementioned one to fund the system’s support personnel retirement contributions.
The controversy stems from the county commission’s August decision to fund the retirement contributions of county employees. While not anticipated at the time, the decision was found by state treasury officials to also apply to the school system’s support personnel – custodians, bus drivers and teaching assistants.
This ruling presented school officials with an extra $207,000 to fund. They attempted to procure the money from their existing budget by transferring funds from one budget category to another, but the state accountant said such transfers are illegal.
With their only other option being layoffs, the board chose instead to pass the increase on to the county, which it feels should take responsibility for its actions.
County Executive Kenneth Rogers had previously questioned if school officials were looking hard enough to find the money, an allegation which school board member Mike Holland voiced resentment toward Thursday night.
“We looked but it’s just not there,” Holland said. “We wanted to move the money around, but the state’s not going to let us do it. It has to be new revenue or layoffs and I’m not for layoffs. That will hurt education.”
Passed by the school board Thursday, the budget must now receive the consent of the commission’s Education Committee and Budget and Finance Committee next month, before seeking the approval of the full commission later in the summer.