Last Tuesday night commissioners concluded it would take at least a 24-cent property tax increase in order to cover a $3 million shortfall to fund the school system's budget as presented.
That conclusion was reached after a six-hour meeting between the Cumberland County Budget Committee and the Board of Education.
At the end of the meeting, commissioners decided to meet again Aug. 12 to further discuss the BOE's budget. Although the budget committee did not reject the school system's budget, it was met with skepticism and concern and no action was taken by the committee.
Commissioners serving on the budget committee and Director of Schools Aarona VanWinkle spent last Tuesday night reviewing the BOE's 2008-'09 proposed budget. Line by line the committee reviewed the 24-page $48 million budget.
Originally a $5 million shortfall, VanWinkle told commissioners the BOE could possibly decide to back out the figures of the projects that were rolled over in the fund balance and put $2 million toward the 2008-'09 budget. That would cut it to a $3 million shortfall.
VanWinkle mentioned to commissioners that the school system could not operate on a $5 million deficit.
Ninth district Commissioner Carmin Lynch said, "You're operating on a $43 million continuing budget."
The state requires the county and BOE have a budget in place in October.
"We're going to have to look at this and see what we can come up with and digest this. We still have a lot of issues in the general fund. There's a shortfall there we're going to have to make up," 3rd District Commissioner Lynn Tollett said.
According to actual audited figures, the total for the operation of the school system last year was $43 million. This year's proposed budget is at $48 million.
Sales tax revenues have decreased and the county property tax rate funding will be lower this year for a combined loss of more than $1 million, according to VanWinkle.
At the end of last Tuesday night's meeting, commissioners decided to meet again to talk with the BOE Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 4:30 p.m. in the small courtroom at the Cumberland County Courthouse. The public is welcome to attend.
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