Mill roll-up, personnel cuts included in White Co. BOE budget

CLEVELAND - The White County Board of Education approved a tentative budget Thursday night that includes a millage rate roll up of 1 percent and $2.4 million in personnel cuts.

School Board Chairman Kendyl Brock-Hunter said it was tough making cuts that affect personnel.

"Central office took a big hit and we also saw it with the administration, but we're okay with that," Brock-Hunter said. "Those that are in place know that it's going to be a tough year or two to get back on track as far as fiscally. Hopefully through the state we will get better funding. We're going to buckle down our bootstraps here and make it happen."

Superintendent Dr. Jeff Wilson said the millage roll up is needed to meet demand and offset lost revenue because of decreased property values.

He also told the board they'll have to utilize almost $200,000 in reserve funds as well as freeze some positions to meet the budget.

Wilson said if they make any more cuts it will start affecting class size, the arts and sports.

Brock-Hunter said many citizens don't realize the board has spending restrictions on certain funds they receive.

"We can't take money from the lunchroom and use it to pay a teacher, you can't take money from SPLOST and pay for a teacher, and so that's what makes it really difficult and makes it hard from a budgetary standpoint is that we are locked in to these pots of money on how we can spend them," she said.

The public will have a couple of weeks to review the $31.6 million budget prior to the final approval that is expected to be made at the end of the month.