GAINESVILLE — The Gainesville City School Board is moving forward in the budget process, giving first-reading approval to a tentative budget at its regular meeting Monday night.
School System Superintendent Wanda Creel said this budget will be the first since 2007 that will be balanced without having to dip into the General Fund. She said that's because they've looked for places to cut both in individual schools and in the district office.
"We've really looked at this to say 'do we need this particular element to remain in our budget?' and I think that's the reason that we've been able to bring forward that balanced budget and not having to use our reserves," said Creel following the meeting.
At this point, the budget remains tentative because the school system has to wait on the city to set a millage rate. That millage rate likely will not be set until August 1, but state law requires the school system to have a budget - event one with tentative status - in place by July 1. The school system is not considering a tax increase.
Creel acknowledged that no salary increases are included in the budget for teachers and staff. Still, she said, Gainesville City School employees are compensated comparably with surrounding districts.
"I think it's critical for us to look at the fact that we have maintained the state salary schedule where other systems in the past have had furlough days - we have, as well - but we have also continued to move up the step increases, where other systems had begun to hold on step increases," said Creel. "Also, when we compare our local supplement with other corresponding districts around us, our local supplement is higher."
A final vote on the $79.9 million plan is set for June 29.
