Even before a budget carrying $21.4 million worth of cuts reaches the Manatee County school board, a district official Wednesday said they may have to shave about $6.5 million more.
In a memo district officials sent to principals recently - after the district learned it may see a lower enrollment this school year than what they had projected - Assistant Superintendent Tim McGonegal explained why the district has to cut so many teaching positions.
The school board had been adamant about not laying off more employees, McGonegal said, and administrators are still working on how to make those additional cuts.
After news from Tallahassee recommending that Manatee may have to cut more and that Gov. Charlie Crist will use the state's rainy day funds to help schools out, McGonegal estimated that the district may altogether have to cut up to $28 million.
Administrators are "still collecting information and ideas" on how to make those additional cuts, such as not filling vacant positions, he said.
"We built our budget for 2008-09 based upon growth of 350 students," he wrote in the memo.
On Tuesday, the district announced that Manatee schools will have 41,979 students this year. That is lower than last year's enrollment and the district's 42,369 projection for this year.
That forces the district to reshuffle staff at each school, he said.
The school board is scheduled to vote on a final budget Tuesday, but that budget will contain only the $21.4 million in cuts, McGonegal said.
"What we're doing now is approving a budget that is based on the revenues that are appropriated by the Legislature and as determined by the certified tax roll," he said. "There is no formal action to amend the state budget. Until they amend the state budget, we wouldn't take any action. . . . It would be guessing."
After $21.4 million in trims, $6.5 million needed
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