Gov. Sonny Perdue’s cuts to education last week almost guarantees an additional tax increase for Jones County taxpayers.

At the close of a July 29 Board of Education workshop, School Superintendent Mike Newton said he will be recommending a millage rate increase at the Aug. 11 Board meeting. He said he is proposing an increase of 1.5 to 2 mills.

“I don’t want this to be doom or gloom; I just want to present the facts. I wish this was better news, but at least we are not locked into a budget,” Newton said.

The bad news for taxpayers is that they were already facing an approximate $200 increase on their property taxes because the governor’s tax credit, commonly known as a homestead exemption, will no longer be available.

Perdue announced last week that K-12 school districts will take a 3 percent funding cut, and the state’s 128,000 public school teachers will take three unpaid furlough days by the end of the calendar year. The cuts to education came in addition to another 5 percent slash to state agencies and three days of furloughs to other state employees to help bridge a $900 million state budget shortfall due to plummeting tax collections.

That may help to bring the state out of its $900 million hole, but it will only add to the problems local school systems are facing with their budgets. Last week’s education cuts from the state equates to an additional loss of $1.5 million in Jones County, which is the amount the school system will receive from federal stimulus money.

State view

In order for school districts to legally consider non-instructional pre-planning days as furlough days, the State Board of Education had to approve flexibility of the ‘school year’ rule.

“I am as frustrated as everyone else that declining revenue has led to our teachers being furloughed,” said State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox in a recent press release.

“We ended last school year with great momentum and record student achievement, and it’s unfortunate that we have to begin a new school year with this issue weighing on our teachers.”

There are other areas of state funding that were recently cut as well. School systems will also see a 3 percent reduction in Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding, the main source of state funding for school systems to pay teachers and provide daily instruction for students. School budget

Jones County’s school budget for 2010 shows projected expenses of $41,575,198.17 and revenues of $39,732,705.00. In order to balance the budget, $1,842,493.17 would be taken from the fund balance, leaving $94,718.83 for unexpected expenses for the school year without a tax increase.

One maintenance problem at any of the county’s eight schools could wipe out that balance in one stroke, and if state funding is delayed, as has happened in the past, the school system could be placed in the position of borrowing money to pay bills and/or employees.

Newton stated that the only good news from the state is that officials are open to any ideas to save money.

“We can apply for waivers in almost every area except Special Education,” he said. “We will take advantage of any and all waivers available. We are also looking at ways to maximize the funds we recover from the state.

“We have got to evaluate everything we do. If it’s not working, get rid of it, and that goes for people, too.”

Newton said he is not considering a four-day school week as other systems have announced, but the school system can be flexible in converting the required number of school days to hours.

“The state is suggesting no summer school, but we’ve already eliminated that. We are going to delay purchasing where possible, and principals know they are only getting one half of their supply budget until we have a better idea of budget figures,” he said.

The superintendent said he cannot see into the future, but he anticipates more cuts are coming.

“I think it is prudent for the Board to think accordingly,” he added.

Board Chairman Ted Stone said it is frustrating for the state to take away more money at a time when many school systems have already set their budgets.

“The federal government gave us $1.5 million in stimulus money, and the state government took it away. We thought we were going to be afloat,” he said.

Stone went on to explain that 86 percent of the school budget goes to salary, and the Board has no control over it.

Newton said the 2010 budget contains significant cuts, and he plans to start work on the FY2011 budget in October.

“Staff is a major part of our cost. We are lucky we had $2 million in attrition savings this year. We have the money to build the new school, but we are going to have to be creative to staff it and open it next year,” he said.

Newton said it is fortunate that sales tax money may be used for textbooks and technology.

“Without it, students would be doing without,” he stated.

School Improvement Executive Director Eric Arena said he has been charged to scrutinize every dollar that leaves the school system. The director stated that the total reductions realized by the school system this year, including its local fair share amount, equals $6.9 million.

When Chief Financial Officer Tonya Merritt was asked to comment about the budget, she simply commented, “It’s rough.”

Newton pointed out that if the Board of Education increases its tax rate by 2 mills, it will equal 16.25 mills, and the state average in 2009 was 16.

“The public needs to understand that the Board of Education is Jones County’s largest employer, and state cuts are reducing the buying power of the community. Teachers understand, but it’s still significant,” he said.

Board member Alfred Pitts said the Board is dealing with the biggest and the most important business in the county.

“If we raise the millage and the economy improves, we can always reduce it,” he said.

Newton is recommending teacher furlough days to be Aug. 12, 13 and Jan. 4, and the Board will vote on the recommendations at their Aug. 11 meeting. The dates are scheduled professional learning days, which Newton said are important, but he said teachers need to be in the classrooms.

Pitts suggested Board members also take the furlough cuts.

“We are doing all we can to make this as painless as possible for the teachers,” he said.

Calendar change

Newton brought up a change in the 2010 calendar. He suggested June 1-4 be half days for students. He said high school students are testing during the last four days, and teachers will have an opportunity to finish paperwork in the afternoons.

“We need to look ahead and have the flexibility of the staff working with minimal impact on instruction. It’s also a good idea to let parents know about the change now,” the superintendent said.

Newton said he has talked about the changes at length with principals, and they are supportive. He added that the Central Office staff will be taking five furlough days.

Traffic control

The last item Newton discussed at the workshop is a possible solution to the traffic at Gray Station Middle School in the mornings. Newton said he spoke with Capt. Billy Mitchell of the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, the school’s principal, Johnny Holliday, and Arena. As a result of the meeting, Newton suggested creating a cut through from the student drop-off area to the bus lane to provide another exit.

“The traffic will be monitored by the Jones County Sheriff’s Department, and Mitchell thinks it will solve the problem,” he said. “This will be safer, has no ongoing cost, and Mr. Holliday will not be in the middle of Highway 18.”

Newton said the cut through will be complete before school starts.