APS budget approved for next school year

City school board members have approved a $578 million general operating budget for Atlanta Public Schools next year, opting for increased class sizes, a continued employee pay freeze and two days of involuntarily furloughs but avoiding layoffs or a property tax increase.

The budget is $11 million less than this year's operating budget. It goes into effect July 1. Officials originally assumed property tax revenue would be down next year by 5 percent but Chuck Burbridge, the city school system's chief financial officer, said Monday that outlook as worsened. Officials now assume an 8 percent reduction next year, a notable hit because local taxes make up more than 76 percent of the district's revenue.