School Board Sends Budget Intent Rather Than Approved Budget
On Tuesday afternoon, the Jefferson County School Board met in a Called Meeting to address the proposed fiscal year 2015-2016 budget. In their previous budget meeting, the Board had identified line item cuts from several categories, including Supervisors, Principals and Vice Principals, as well as technology, to balance a little more than $300,000 in deficit. Jefferson County Finance Director Potts informed the Board that the changes to the budget document had been made in accordance to the motion for line item cuts, with the exception of one educational increase and technology. He stated that the proposal reflected $100,000 in cuts beyond the increase in BEP funding.
Director of Jefferson County Schools Edmonds stated his concern that administrators cannot be subject to a different pay scale from teachers and the proposed cuts would leave administrators with no salary increase. He presented a second option to balance the budget,with the funding from the shortage to come from textbooks. The alternate option cut $422,484 from the text book line, leaving only around 24% of that line item intact. Central Office Supervisors stated that math books, which were slotted for replacement, are in the fourth year of a six year cycle and that a change in curriculum will like require a change shortly.
Despite several attempts at motions, the Board could not pull together enough votes to pass a line item budget. Faced with a Jefferson County Budget Committee Meeting following on the heels of the School Board meeting, the Board decided, in the eleventh hour, to instruct Finance Director Potts to deliver the Board’s intent of a zero increase to the Budget Committee for consideration, with the plan to lock in line items and identify the source of cuts at a later date. Both the initial proposal and the alternative requested a zero increase. The Motion was offered by Board Member Vines, 2nd by Board Member Lowery and Passed 4-1-1 with Board Member Potts voting No and Board Chair Jarnigan abstaining. The Department of Education is awaiting final BEP numbers from the State of Tennessee.
