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Highlands Today
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School Budget Set At $169 Million
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Published: July 14, 2008
SEBRING - Preliminary numbers show it will take a $169 million budget to operate the Highlands County School District for the 2008-'09 fiscal year.
The proposed tentative budget for 2008-'09 is $169,137,189, which is about $26 million less than the district's 2007-'08 budget of $195 million.
The school district's budget is decreasing because it is spending the $56 million it borrowed for school construction, Assistant Superintendent of Business Operations Mike Averyt said Wednesday.
But there was a significant decrease in the general fund, too, he added.
"That's just an estimate at this point; we actually haven't finalized the budget," Averyt said.
The tentative 2008-'09 budget will be advertised July 26 prior to the first public budget hearing scheduled for 5:05 p.m. July 29 at the Garland Boggus Board Room.
The school property tax rate has not been finalized as the district awaits the final numbers on the assessed property valuations.
"I've heard in a lot of different districts that the assessed valuations have decreased as it did in our district, as well," Averyt said.
School Board Chairman J. Ned Hancock said that working the budget might be tough for a couple of years.
"The board is going to have to become more involved early in the process," of developing the budget, he said.
As soon as the 2008-'09 budget is finalized, the board will have to set some priorities early in the year for the next budget, he said.
School Board Member Donna Howerton said the board will have to get a jump on working on the 2009-'10 budget before March, when the board typically starts addressing budget issues.
"We are going to have to look real close again at our dollars to see what is going to best benefit the students in the classroom," she said.
Marc Valero can be reached at 386-5826 or mvalero@highlandstoday.com
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