Richmond County Board of Education member Jack Padgett has one word to describe the school system’s financial situation.
“Dire,” Padgett said. “D-I-R-E.”
The district is facing $19 million in continued state cuts along with $2.5 million in new reductions for the 2013-14 budget year, following suit with the $117 million Georgia has slashed locally over the past five years. In addition, Richmond County will have to pay $1.8 million more in health care costs for noncertified employees than last year, with more increases projected for 2015.
To make up for the losses, Superintendent Frank Roberson last week instructed all principals to cut 7 percent from their schools’ budgets. The principals were given freedom in where the money could be drawn from, but worksheets given to them included options for personnel layoffs, utility cuts and reductions in the use of substitute teachers.
“It’s going to be difficult in some situations, but that’s where we are,” Padgett said.
via School system’s financial picture forcing heavy funding cuts | The Augusta Chronicle.
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