DeKalb committee moves to cut 427 school jobs, nixes tax hike

By Megan Matteucci

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The DeKalb County school board will vote on a budget for next year that balances the current projected deficit with at least 427 layoffs, seven teacher furlough days and at least four school closings -- but no tax hike.

On Friday, the board’s four-member budget committee adopted a tentative budget that reflects $115.8 million in cuts.

The $735.2 million budget will go to the board April 12  for approval.

“What we’re trying to do is survive so the system can move forward in the best shape possible,” budget chairman H. Paul Womack said Friday.

Womack, along with board members Don McChesney and Jay Cunningham, voted in support of the budget. Board member Eugene Walker voted against the proposal, saying he would only support a budget with a tax hike.

“If you don’t have a millage increase, clearly that budget will be balanced on the backs of our programs and our employees,” Walker said.

At 22.98 mills, DeKalb already has the third-highest school tax rate in the metro area.

The committee's budget includes laying off 200 paraprofessionals, 150 central office employees, 59 media clerks and 18 technology specialists.

In addition to layoffs, the budget committee voted to cut another 61 paraprofessionals, 10 assistant principals and 10 counselors through attrition.

Even with the layoffs, DeKalb still has many more paraprofessionals than the state pays for, Cunningham said. The state funds for 500 paraprofessionals and after the cuts, DeKalb will have about 1,100.

DeKalb also pays its employees more than the majority of districts in Georgia, according to Chief Human Resources Officer Jamie Wilson.

“We have followed a path during a time of luxury and substantial funding that we have been able to do a lot of things that other counties have not been able to do,” Womack said.

The committee also voted to furlough teachers seven days, which is about a 3.9 percent pay cut. Administrators, secretaries and other employees will face 10 to 15 furlough days.

The committee also voted to raise class sizes by two students and cut the board’s contribution to employees’ tax-sheltered annuity.

That’s just the first round of cuts.

“Based on what I’m hearing from the CFO and things going on downtown, that number [the shortfall] will change to $120-$125 million,” Cunningham said. “I really believe the $115 million is not going to be enough.”

If the shortfall grows, Cunningham said he would be willing to support a small tax increase.

Michael Parks, co-PTA president at the DeKalb Early College Academy, said he is struggling to make ends meet at home but would support a half mill increase to his property taxes. The early college academy, which has about 180 students, will lose eight of its 14 teachers under the committee’s budget.

"When you try and take the cheap way out, ultimately you’re going to pay,” said Parks, who owns a roofing company. “We need to pay for our children by increasing our taxes.”

For some teachers, a tax increase is the only answer.

“Inside this room, you are killing our education,” Midway Elementary teacher Lisa Morgan told the committee. “I don’t think you searched under every rock if 19 of the 29 cuts are coming from our teachers, our students and those people who work with students every day.”

Last week, some board members were reluctant to close schools at the end of the year, saying they felt the choice was being rushed. On Friday, the committee's approved budget included at least four school closures, which are slated to save $2.35 million.

The Citizens’ Planning Task Force, which is charged with recommending schools for closure, will meet Tuesday to narrow that list from 14 to four.

Metro Atlanta school budget woes

School districts trying to adopt next year's budgets are watching deficit projections rise sharply as property values, and anticipated revenues, drop.

Atlanta

Two weeks ago, the district proposed cutting $47.4 million and pulling $9.5 million from reserves to meet its projected deficit. Cuts would include 10 percent in every department and two furlough days.

Cherokee County

Staring at a projected $30 million deficit, the district faces losing at least 41 teachers and 76 support staff.

Clayton County

On Monday, Clayton schools superintendent Edmond Heatley said that if no action is taken, the deficit could hit $119 million, or $16 million worse than estimated a month ago.

Cobb County

Schools chief Fred Sanderson said Thursday the shortfall could reach $137.7 million, up from an estimate of $100 million just a week ago.

DeKalb County

With the deficit estimated at $115.8 million, budget committee members recommended layoffs, furloughs, larger class sizes and school closings. On Friday, however, they heard the figure could rise to $125 million, which would mean another look at a tax increase.

Fulton County

With a $120 million deficit, the board faces losing 1,000 jobs, half of them teachers.

Gwinnett County

Considering a $97 million deficit, the district faces pay cuts, furloughs and loss of support staff.