News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Livingston Aldermen approved budgeting some $107,750 to help schools inside the city limits to pay for school resource officers
The budgeted amount is for the next school year. Mayor Curtis Hayes said SROs are currently funded through a state grant, which is in its last year.
“So next year we won’t even get any money from the grant,” Hayes said. “And I talked to (Director of Schools) Dr. Holman and he says if at all possible, they would try to match us in a memorandum of understanding, 50 percent of what the cost will be for the next school year.”
The City of Livingston supplies SROs to schools in the city proper, including Livingston Academy, Livingston Middle School, and A.H. Roberts Elementary which shares time with REACH Academy. The County Sheriff’s Office supplies SROs to schools in the county.
Hayes said that to his understanding, the school system did not know the SRO funding would no longer be available as they went through their budget. Hayes said the city will be able to use a portion of $200,000 in general funds originally budgeted for a new garbage truck to cover the cost.
“We have not advertised that truck for bid,” Hayes said. “Talking to CMI, if you ordered a truck you’re 12 months waiting on a truck right now so we would be okay, it would take a budget amendment to do, but we would be okay to go ahead and fund this $107,750 given the fact that a new fiscal year would be here by the time the truck would be here even if we ordered the truck in September.”
Alderman Kelly Coleman said he is all for SROs, but that he is concerned about funding from the city’s standpoint. He asked that if the agreement was for the city to pay half and for the school system to pay half, would it not warrant a conversation with the County Commission for one-year to help the school system help with the half it couldn’t fund?
The aldermen approved the budget amendment with the desire to pursue further discussions with county officials.
