Next year's budget in good shape

The Columbia County school system is projecting $867,702 in excess revenues for its 2007-08 budget.

Superintendent Tommy Price gave the good news to the school board at a budget work session Tuesday.

He attributed the windfall to a bigger than expected increase in the county tax digest, which will net the school system $1.6 million.

That figure from the tax assessor's office is based on a 13 percent increase in the county tax digest and maintenance of the current millage of 17.18, Mr. Price said.

A week ago, the school system was looking at a 2007-08 budget shortfall of about $178,000. At that time, Mr. Price said, the increase in the county tax digest was projected at 10 percent.

"We've got the best budget picture that we've had right now in many, many years," he said.

Pat Sullivan, the school system controller, said the tax assessor's office based the additional 3 percent increase on growth and reassessments.

Mr. Price also fine-tuned additional budget proposals that he presented to the board in late April. The changes dropped the total costs of these added expenditures from $715,391 to $590,891.

The new figure included the elimination of a reading specialist position at a cost of about $85,000, Mr. Price said.

The superintendent also recommended that the board budget the entire $255,000 cost to purchase a global positioning system for the system's bus fleet.

However, he proposed that the Transportation Department install the equipment on its buses in stages so that any problems can be worked out.

He suggested that the department start by using the GPS equipment on its 33 special education buses and about 10 buses that run in western Columbia County.

The school board is expected to give final approval to the 2007-08 budget June 12.

Reach Betsy Gilliland at (706) 868-1222, ext. 113, or betsy.gilliland@augustachronicle.com.