Supervisors, Principals, and “Others” Increases Get Trimmed by School Board
Budget issues continued to plague the Jefferson County School Board on Thursday, May 14, 2015 in Called Meeting at the Patriot Academy addressing the 2015-2016 budget. An approved budget document is due to the Jefferson County Budget Committee for consideration at their May 19th budget meeting. At the previous School Board meeting, the Department of Education was looking at nearly $1 million dollars in deficit, despite an increase in funding from the State of Tennessee. In an effort to present a balanced budget to the Budget Committee, a motion was approved that required a balanced budget to go to Committee and an ad hoc committee was formed to help in reaching that mandate. Board Members Cavanah and Bradley joined Director of Schools Edmonds and Finance Director Potts last week to make suggestions for cuts. Some BEP compensation funds were applied to the total deficit, bringing the working number down to -$451,608. The ad hoc committee determined that another $225,000 should be cut from the budget before returning it to the Board for consideration. After the cuts were applied, the School Board was faced with a deficit of -$226,608. Additional amount of $87,006 was added to the deficit to accommodate a request to uplift the salaries of the lowest paid classified employees bringing the total deficit to -$313,614.
Jefferson County Director of Schools Edmonds stated that a report on BEP funding is due from the State on May 19th, the same day that the budget is due to the Budget Committee for review, and there is a possibility that revenue will be greater than anticipated. However, he said that it would not be prudent to depend on additional funds. Board Member Potts stated that the motion of the Board called for a mandated balanced budget and if that was not to be the intent of the Board the motion would have to be rescinded , which would require a 2/3 approval of the Board. Board Member Vines made a Motion to rescind the previous motion requiring a balanced budget and was 2nd by Cavanah. The motion Failed 2-3-1 with Bradley, Potts and Cavanah voting No and Lowery abstaining.
Board Member Potts stated that she would like to see the lowest classified employee wages addressed and would rather see line item and departmental cuts. After a lengthy discussion several line items were identified as having increases that could be trimmed. Board Member Potts made a successful Motion to cut line items 104( Principals), 105(Supervisors), 132(Materials Supervisor), 139(Assistant Principals), 189 for a cut of $35,684(Other Salaries and Wages), 338(Maintenance and Repair Services-Vehicle), 410(Custodial Supplies), 499(Other Materials and Supplies), 524(Staff Development), 599(Other Charges), 790(Other Equipment) $63,000 from technology department, for no increases on affected lines and to remain at even funding with the exception of a small increase in line 189 ( also included were associated benefits). She was 2nd by Cavanah and the Motion Passed 4-2 with Bradley and Vines voting No. Total cuts included in the motion equal $313,553. The $87,006 remained in the budget document.
In other action, the Board Approved a Federal Purpose Budget Amendment with a Motion from Cavanah and 2nd from Potts and Food Service Budget Amendment with a Motion from Vines and 2nd from Lowery.
The School Board will have a Called Meeting on May 19, 2015 at 4 pm at the Department of Education to address the budget.
