District Furlough Days, Few Layoffs, Raises for Lowest Paid Employees

Armed with a laser pointer, Clarke County School Superintendent Phil Lanoue marched through a power point presentation of the district budget like Sherman through Georgia. Expenditures, revenues, state mandates, health care increases, teachers retirement increases, step increases--they were all there.

For 2014, the district initially projected revenues of $116 million, expenditures of $125 million and a deficit of $9 million. Restructuring here and there, furloughing the entire district, not filling positions and going to zero-based budgeting will result in expenditures of $120 million and a deficit of $4 million. Lanoue told the board.

Here are the highlights: Class sizes aren't going to change, programs aren't going to be eliminated and there will be no layoffs in elementary and middle schools, though there may be some in the high schools.

The five furlough days--and one extra day for those in the district office who are making more than $80,000--will mean the entire district will just shut down, saving electricity and transportation costs. Those furlough days will save the district $2.89 million, Lanoue said.

Restructuring the central office staff will save $678,000. Going to seven periods in high school instead of block scheduling will save $972,000--though it will likely result in some teachers losing their jobs. And having a year-round effort at cost containment will save $500,000. These measures will help reduce the deficit the school district is carrying.

The good news is the Clarke County tax digest is holding steady and will be improving as property values rise. The district also receives money from the state, the federal government, from transportation reimbursements, ad valorem taxes and interest income. In years past, that has been as high as $100,000; for this budget, it's only $15,000.

The school district is paying more for health care for both certified and classified employees, and more for teacher's retirement.

For detailed information, please refer to the attached pdf. There will be public hearings on the budget in May. The board will vote on it during their June meeting.