The Board of Education approved a $53 million tentative budget during Tuesday night's meeting paving the way for the adoption of a final budget.
The budget, which includes the $2.5 million approved by the board during early meetings due to a decrease in state funding will leave the district with a balance of $1.3 million, according to Superintendent Marvin Williams.
That's no where near the $3-4 million balance desired by both Williams and Alan Melson, the director of Financial Services, but it will probably keep the board from having to borrow money during the coming year, Williams said.
The board approved the budget in a 7-2 vote with Grady McCrickard, Dan Forsyth, Susan Berry, Tim Turner, Andy Fairel, Tara O'Neal and Chuck Thaxton voting for and Jane Holbrooks and Tommy Sanders voting against.
"I think we should look at cutting the local supplements," Sanders said. "We need to look at cutting all of them. The academic, athletic, administrative and central office supplements. It's not fair to just cut some, if we're going to do it, we need to spread the pain around."
He asked that Williams look into the cost saving measures of cutting the supplements as well as potentially adding more furlough days. Williams stated he would present his findings a the next board meeting.
The board can always vote to make changes to the budget before a final draft is adopted, Williams said.
"The next step is legal advertising in the paper," Williams said. "The tentative budget will be available for review by the public on the district website and in paper."
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