News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The first budget draft for the Putnam County School System includes an $8.8 million gap between projected revenue and expenditures.
Superintendent Jerry Boyd said the proposal aligns with the needs and vision of the school system.
“So we’re going to continue to be realistic, and since realism to us is… what do we need to serve the children of Putnam County at the quality and the level we think they deserve and the community expects?” Boyd said. “That gap reflects that right now. Will we have to make adjustments? I’m sure we will, but that reflects what we know we need.”
The proposed budget includes a $2.5 million for a 4-percent salary and wage improvement increase for certified and non-certified employees. The spending plan also includes money for a number of new employees, a cooling tower at Cornerstone Elementary, a rooftop unit at Northeast Elementary, and repairs to the Cookeville High School’s track.
“We’ve had a lot of discussion about the very visible maintenance and capital improvement needs,” Boyd said. “Not just new in construction, and not even renovation and major additions. These are things that…it’s costly to own these facilities and address these big cost items.”
Projected revenue totals $90,878,308, while projected expenditures come in at $99,725,432. A majority of the school system’s revenue comes from basic education program (BEP) funding and state and local taxes. Salaries, wages, and benefits make up 81 percent of the district’s expenditures.
School Board Chairman Dawn Fry said many of the identified needs are overdue and unfunded requests from previous years. She encouraged the public to contact their county commissioners.
“When we aren’t able to provide these things, we are in essence just kicking the can down the road a bit,” Fry said. “It’s on all of us to reach out and explain that this is what we’re trying to do and this is why we need that.”
School Board members approved the budget Thursday night and it now heads to the county commission for review.
