Richmond County school board members said Tuesday that if budget cuts must be made, they'd rather see them in the central office instead of your child's classroom.

Board members were trying to trim almost $19 million from next year's spending, but many worried that the classrooms would suffer.

"We're living a lie if we don't do what we can for the children," board member Marion Barnes said during an afternoon budget meeting.

He went line-by-line down nearly $7.9 million in personnel cuts, questioning the effect they might have on instruction and student achievement.

It was the first time board members had met since receiving the budget proposal, one drafted with the assumption that there will be no growth in the tax digest. The budget, as proposed, calls for raising taxes and cutting 132 positions.

Among the cuts are 58 teachers, 57.5 first-grade paraprofessionals, the coordinator of social studies and foreign language, the drug and safe schools coordinator, five elementary school counselors, two central office clerical positions and the dropout prevention specialist. Eight public safety officer positions would be frozen.

Dr. Missoura Ashe, the assistant superintendent for administrative services, said some teachers won't be needed if the state approves waivers for larger class sizes. Other positions aren't necessary because of the loss of pupils.

In the past year, the county has lost 600 pupils, which interim Superintendent James Thompson said is equivalent to losing a school.

Fewer pupils means less state funding.

The state also reduced other funding and passed along part of a 3 percent pay raise for teachers and bus drivers to local systems.

Finance Committee Chairman Frank Dolan called for a list of all central office employees, their job descriptions and salaries.

His concerns were shared by board member Venus Cain, who questioned whether "fat" can be trimmed from the administration.

But there must be cuts, and personnel cuts can't be avoided because they make up most of the budget, board member Jack Padgett said.

Even with the proposed cuts, the budget calls for raising taxes. The tax increase would mean that the owner of a $100,000 house would pay an additional $30.45 in taxes.