Decatur schools spending to jump nearly $10 million in 2015-16

City Schools Decatur’s first draft of its 2015-16 budget projects the system spending $55 million while actually bringing in $50 million.

During an interview with the AJC, Superintendent Phyllis Edwards admitted “that $5 million gap is larger than normal.” She said the gap should close some between now and when the final draft’s approved in June, with the system projecting to receive roughly $1.7 million from the state. Nevertheless that anticipated $55 million is an increase over the $45.6 million actually spent in FY2014.

CSD will need 25 extra positions, mostly teachers, next year, along with six to eight more trailers at Decatur High, four trailers at either Westchester Elementary or Glennwood Elementary and two more at Winnona Park Elementary. Edwards said she hopes to keep the millage rate at 20.5 mills.