Aiken County schools should get some answers today about budget cuts from the state Education Department .

Superintendent Beth Everitt and her administrative staff have been on hold since the state Budget and Control Board announced a 7 percent cut.

"I think we've exhausted what is there to cut," Dr. Everitt said.

Pete Pillow, an Education Department public information associate, said e-mails would go out today identifying money amounts that can be cut next.

"I'm pretty sure school districts are holding on to the hope that when the legislature starts in January that they could pass a rule giving districts some freedom to move money around to different funds," Mr. Pillow said.

To keep the district afloat through the end of the school year, administrators might recommend the Aiken County school board dip into savings. About 90 percent of the district's budget is employee salaries and benefits. Furloughs or layoffs would violate contracts.

"About the only option left is supplies and nonessential items," Dr. Everitt said.

Since July, 10.6 percent of schools' budgets statewide - $164 million - have been eliminated , Mr. Pillow said.

Aiken County has asked teachers to hold 50 percent of their supply budgets for the year, turned off lights and reduced substitutes.

While the K-12 system waits on answers , Aiken Technical College announced Tuesday that a three-day furlough would go into effect in April to handle the 7 percent cut.

"We anticipated 4 percent, so the fact that it was larger came as somewhat of a surprise," college President Susan Winsor said. "It wasn't the only option left, but the best option in order to continue our mission."

Since July, 24.4 percent - $1.1 million - of Aiken Tech's state funding has been cut. The furlough should save $118,000.

The University of South Carolina Aiken opted to use its fund balance to offset cuts instead of requiring a furlough, spokeswoman Jennifer Conner said last week. About 14.7 percent - $1,978,165 - has been cut from USC Aiken's budget since June.

Mr. Pillow said that when the legislature returns Jan. 13, state Education Superintendent Jim Rex will ask for a flexibility provision so school districts have more leeway in how they make it through this budget year.

Dr. Everitt says it isn't just this year she's worried about.

"We're also looking at more reductions next year and wondering where those are going to come from," she said.

Reach Julia Sellers at (706) 823-3424 or julia.sellers@augustachronicle.com.