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- News Archives: 2010-2017
Board Requests Increase in Local Funding for 2011-12
When the Guilford County Board of Education approved sending a local budget request of $186,306,381 to the Guilford County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, it asked for a $5.64 million increase in funding for rising operating costs and $2.3 million more in capital outlay funding.
Despite aging facilities, increases in costs and a larger student population, Guilford County Schools (GCS) has faced a $3.8 million reduction in local capital outlay funding and flat operating dollars over the past two years. The board's request asks county commissioners for $5.5 million in capital outlay, $2.3 million more than was received last year, to address facilities and maintenance needs. The board is also asking for a $5.64 million increase in operating funds to help address the rising cost of sustaining operations and an increase in student enrollment.
"Even though we are requesting an increase in funding, we are limiting the request to what is needed to maintain the current level of services to students and schools and to begin to restore capital outlay funds for maintenance and repairs to previous levels," said Superintendent Maurice "Mo" Green.
The request for an operating budget of $180.8 million would help the district cope with an anticipated increase of 692 students for the 2011-12 school year. GCS has already grown by more than 1,000 students since the 2008-09 school year when the district received its last budget increase at the local level. The estimated cost to the district for next year's growth in student enrollment is $1.6 million. GCS is also facing increases in sustaining operations costs due to increases associated with retirement, employee and health benefits, fuel and other costs.
The request for $5.5 million in capital outlay funding would help GCS address concerns associated with its aging school facilities. Capital outlay dollars are used for maintenance projects such as the repair and upkeep of building structures, mechanical equipment, underground utility lines and the school grounds. Schools like Northwest Middle with central air systems 30 to 40 years old, depend on capital outlay funds to provide necessary upgrades. The district also has about 17 schools in critical need of roof replacements, but current funds only allow for two or three roof replacements per year. Limited funds are available to replace carpeting in schools with hard-surface flooring, an effort to improve indoor air quality and make cleaning easier.
"Our duty here is to advocate for what our needs are and be straightforward with our county commissioners," said Alan Duncan, board chairman. "We have clearly articulated very substantial additional costs if we run the exact same school system as this year."
In addition to the local funding concerns, GCS is preparing for cuts at the state level that are equal to or higher than the district has sustained in the past two years. Last week, the state House voted on a budget that would have a $26.7 million impact on GCS. The district expects that the Senate budget will call for even deeper reductions. GCS has prepared for an up to $35.6 million reduction in state funding broken down into three tiers.
The first tier calls for using $13.3 million in federal EduJobs funding. The second tier includes central office reductions and redirections, energy savings, multi-tier transportation, increasing class size by 0.25 students and holding back some weighted student formula funding. The third tier, which would be used only as a last resort is a two-day pay reduction for GCS employees who earn $35,000 or more.
The total budget approved by the board, including local, state and federal funding, is $663.1 million, but the process of getting to a final budget continues. The board is required to present a local budget request to the county by May 15 annually, and the county is obligated to prepare a budget by July 1. About 30 percent of the district's funds come from the county. The state, which provides 59 percent of the district's budget, does not have a deadline for finalizing its budget. The final budget for GCS will be determined once the state completes its process.
GCS parents, staff and community members can participate in the next step of the budget process by attending the upcoming Guilford County Board of Commissioners work session on May 17 at 2 p.m. and its regular meeting on June 2 at 6 p.m. Both meetings will be held at the Guilford County Courthouse, 301 W. Market St., Greensboro. The county commissioners are also seeking feedback on the budget on the county website at http://www.co.guilford.nc.us .
The board's vote on the budget also included an approval for using $18,783 in funding redirected from uncommitted board membership funds to provide bowling as a sport in high schools.