The Richmond County school board has passed a $225 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, making up for a projected $24.5 million shortfall with employee furloughs, cuts in teachers' pay and reductions in teaching staff.
Many of the system's employees will face a furlough of four days -- and therefore cuts in pay. Teachers, who by state law cannot be furloughed, will still take a pay cut in local salary supplements they receive from the school board.
Dr. Dana Bedden, Richmond County schools superintendent:
"Please accept my apologies for any difficulties and hardships the furlough may create. While the furloughs were not something I would preferred, I really believed they were better than layoffs."
Bedden noted that about 90 percent of the school system's budget is personnel costs.
Despite the furloughs and pay cuts, many teachers and employees will still receive pay raises mandated by the state. The raises, known as step increases, will cover a portion of their incomes that they would otherwise lose with the furloughs.
The board is also eliminating several teaching positions through attrition and the non-renewal of some teacher contracts.
The budget comes as school systems across the state grapple with major funding issues due to the troubled economy and significant losses in revenue.
For more information about the budget, click here.
