Even as recently hired superintendent Wanda Creel was officially introduced to school system employees, Board of Education members were given the news last week to begin preparing for another tough budget process, which is slated to begin later this month.
Assistant superintendent for financial services Ken Cato has been preparing board members for what will be a tough year ahead. Cato said at last Thursday’s meeting that $1.5 million in automobile taxes are still outstanding, noting the system should have collected $6 million by this point.
Cato said there was some encouraging news concerning the recent Education Special Local Option Sales Tax Collection, which was close to $700,000.
“Maybe the economic tide is turning a little,” Cato said. “We are still not where we need it to be to turn our debt.”
School system officials have repeatedly warned BOE members that this upcoming budget will be tougher than the previous one.
“The budget year 2011 may be the worst the state has ever faced,” outgoing superintendent Ron Saunders said. “When we get to 2012, it may be even worse. It may be years before we get out of this.”
Cato added, “As we start to get into the budget going forward, we may be getting into some very scary stuff.”