By Rose Laudicina
Staff Writer
Nearing the end of their annual retreat at the Friday Center on Tuesday, the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Board of Education tackled one of the biggest items on their agenda: the 2012-13 budget.
Considering potential funding from both the state and the county, the preliminary outlook appears mixed.
The district is still waiting to receive the state’s projected enrollment and budget figures, but according to Ruby Pittman, executive director of budget and finance, the district has projected an enrollment of 12,048 students for the 2012-13 school year, an increase of 330 students from 2011-12.
With an increase in enrollment comes an increase in funding, since both the state and the Orange County Board of Commissioners fund the district on a per-pupil basis. However, with increased enrollment also comes the need to hire additional teachers to retain the district’s current student-to-teacher ratio standards.
Taking all the various costs into account, Pittman told the board she estimates the district will have a net overall increase of about $66,074 from the state for next year.
While, given the slight increase from the state, the outlook appeared to be good, board Chair Mia Burroughs shared news from a meeting with county commissioners that drew concern.
“Their first thought was to cut both of the school districts’ budgets by a combined $1.2 million,†Burroughs said.
“This is in the opposite direction of what we need,†she added.
Considering possible cuts from the county, the board discussed the specific types of budget items they wanted to request from the county, including the possibility of asking for an increase in the amount paid per pupil, but ultimately decided against that request.
“I am interested in just asking for what we need and being sensitive for local taxpayers,†board member Jamezetta Bedford said.
The county’s current allocation to CHCCS is $3,102 per student, and the district anticipates the amount will stay the same for the upcoming school year.
The board also discussed what budget expansion requests – extra money requested by the district to maintain or expand services – they would be making to the county.
One major expansion request the board identified was the need for $340,593 for the elementary school 11 planning budget.
The board directed staff to return with recommendations for additional expansion requests along with recommendations for possible cuts that would allow for reallocation of money.