Cobb School District Presents Balanced Budget
Cobb County school officials this week presented a balanced budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. The district seemingly overcame an estimated $80 million deficit.
Hear the audio version of this story.
Officials said they cut spending by $20 million; benefitted from another $20 million in increased property tax revenues; and received an additional $35 million in state funding this year. Chief Financial Officer Brad Johnson said the district will restore some cuts.
“No furlough days, 180-day school year, reduced class sizes, and there’s over 200 additional teachers right now included, a full step for all eligible employees, beginning on July 1,” Johnson pointed out. “This is just a dramatic turnaround.”
Despite the good news, Johnson said the district will take a conservative approach to spending and budgeting.
Kristy Flowers is the president of FACE It Cobb, a group that lobbied the Legislature this year for increased funding. She says she hopes the financial gains are sustainable and not a one-time fix.
“There’s still a lot of work ahead and we will continue to push forward this fall and this winter with the Legislature, asking them to do some more funding,” Flowers says. “And, hopefully, even though it won’t be an election year, they will see the importance of helping public education.”
The school board is expected to vote on the proposed budget later this month.
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