Guilford schools unlikely to get budget increase
Guilford schools unlikely to get budget increase
GREENSBORO — It appears unlikely that the Guilford County Board of Commissioners will approve the $15.8 million budget increase that appeared in the Board of Education's budget proposal earlier this week.
"I doubt there's six votes this year," said Republican Commissioner Linda Shaw, referring to the number of votes needed on the 11-member board to pass resolutions. "I doubt that they're going to get much more than they got last year."
The school district is proposing a $650 million spending plan. About a third of that —$180.9 million — would come from Guilford County.
The schools budget, as originally submitted by Co-Superintendents Sharon Ozment and Eric Becoats, includes a $15.8 million increase in local spending. About half of that would go to pay higher salaries local officials think the state will require.
Schools asked for the same increase last year. They received about $8 million, which is the increase some commissioners say Guilford schools will see in the 2008-09 budget.
"They'd be lucky if they get half of that in this budget," said Republican Commissioner Billy Yow of the school board request.
Departments asking for more than what they want or expect is nothing new.
"I've been on the board for 15 years, and every year they come in with double the amount that they really need," Democrat Melvin "Skip" Alston said.
Alston anticipates cuts to be spread across all departments in the 2008-09 county budget.
"I'm calling for no salary increase for employees," he said.
Of eight commissioners reached Thursday, all said they don't expect the school board's request to be fully funded. Some commissioners were more ambivalent about cuts.
"I want to help the schools as much as possible, and I want to put some CBOs back into the budget," Carolyn Coleman, a Democrat, said about the community-based organizations that were cut out of the county budget last year.
Chairman Kirk Perkins sounded ambivalent on the schools' request.
"The sheriff (BJ Barnes) is saying that he needs things, and social services says they need things," Perkins said. "While the school might be one of the most important things we fund, it's not the only thing that's funded."
Much of what happens in the 2008-09 budget could come from County Manager David McNeill. His recommendation will hinge on the outcome of five bond referendums and a quarter-cent sales tax voters will see on the ballot May 6.
Those bonds total $671.6 million, and would likely be paid through an increased property tax rate. The sales tax would bring about $15 million to the county. If that tax is passed, Commissioner John Parks said it could help hold down that property tax rate.
"What kind of budget we come out with, a lot of it's going to depend on this sales tax." Parks said.
Contact Gerald Witt at 373-7008 or gerald.witt@news-record.com
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