The Putnam County Board of Education has slightly reduced it’s budget gap, but not by cutting expenses.
The $4 million gap decreased by $80,000 after the school system received its projected Basic Education Program revenue estimates for May.
The board approved the second draft of its budget Thursday, which still includes a 3-percent pay increase for all employees. That proposal comes in at $1,754,973.
The budget also calls for several increases for key school level improvements, including, $100,000 for classroom instructional funds, $126,000 for three English Language Learner teachers, $625,000 for 10 additional classroom teachers for growth and ratios, and $293,700 for five elementary Art/STEM teachers.
“There is a gap because we have no mechanism for growth,” Boyd said. “We are going to continue to put forth our needs and align our resources to our strategic plan with our goals.”
“The additional money, we are going to have to come back to the county commission because we have no mechanism to address growth, He said”