The projected Amherst County Public Schools deficit for the next fiscal year is now $3.1 million, the superintendent told school board members Thursday night.
“We still don’t have firm numbers,” Superintendent Brian Ratliff said, stressing that legislators’ budget work has just begun and that his estimate was based on information available now, not in the future.
“It does change, it’s going to change,” he said.
“I would be remiss if I didn’t say it … I find it next to impossible to avert all job loss,” in the fiscal 2010-11 budget, Ratliff said.
He estimated earlier this month that the likely range of the deficit would be $2.5 million to $3.5 million.
The General Assembly is working on the state budget, which will determine how much less local governments receive this year. Local officials statewide are expecting less money for their next operational budgets.
The Amherst County Public Schools current operating budget is $49,820,169, and 80 percent of it pays for the people who work in the system, from janitors to administrators -- and classroom teachers.
Ratliff reiterated Thursday night that instruction was the district’s No. 1 priority.
“The greatest economic development feature in this community is walking around our schools,” he said. He also said other school system jobs ranging from administrators to nutritionists to bus drivers all support instruction.
The board meets again Feb. 11. It will hold a daylong retreat Feb. 19, and Ratliff will present his proposed budget Feb. 25.
Two budget workshops are scheduled in March.
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