Information from WYSH Radio
On Thursday, the Roane County School Board voted to make several deep cuts to balance its budget for this year.
The cuts became necessary earlier when the Roane County Commission rejected the school system’s request for a 14-cent property tax increase to make up a $1.5 million shortfall. The deepest cut was to funding for the purchase of new textbooks to the tune of about $1 million.
The board also voted to cut funding to the Midtown Education Center, the system’s alternative school, but voted not to close it as some had suggested. Academic and athletic supplements for extracurricular activities were initially cut but later reinstated.
The rest of the budget was balanced by using approximately $950,000 from the school system’s rainy-day fund, money that officials say will not be there next year, when officials say the system’s financial prospects are no rosier.
Information in this story brought to you through an agreement between Oak Ridge Today and WYSH. See more local news headlines on the WYSH website at http://www.wyshradio.com/local_news.html.
Denny Phillips says
Perhaps new math textbooks are in order.
“About $1 million” + $950,000 = “About $1.95 million”.
I thought the shortfall was $1.5 million?
johnhuotari says
Good point, Denny. Sorry, but I don’t have the details on how this all works out mathematically since I wasn’t able to attend that meeting, but perhaps I can call when I have a chance.
Tj garland says
Anyone see the front page picture of the two $600 leather brief cases the school board just bought? They were needed to carry important papers from the Superintendent to the Court House.