Facing state budget cuts, the Orange County Board of Commissioners will meet with the boards of education of two local school systems tonight to discuss education budgets and how a proposed tax increase could help fill funding voids.
Commissioners will meet with school boards from Orange County Schools and Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools to discuss how to allocate local funds, including potential revenue from a quarter-cent sales tax increase, for the schools after budget presentations from both district superintendents.
Commissioner Chairwoman Bernadette Pelissier said the county education budget faces more uncertainty this year because of state cuts.
“We never know how budgets are going to be from year to year,” she said. “The benefit of the tax would be a continual revenue for older schools, and the schools wouldn’t be dependent on general funds.”
The county education budget projects an 8.8 percent decrease in funding for K-12 education, a 10 percent decrease in funding for community colleges and some lottery proceeds for operations.
Funding reductions from the state for Chapel Hill-Carrboro could range from $2.6 million to $6.4 million.
Orange County Schools could see a state funding reduction of $3.3 million.
Increased projected enrollment and higher printing costs for the 2011-2012 school year will also cause changes to expenses and
revenue.
If the proposed county sales tax passes, 50 percent of the revenue will be shared by the two school systems. The proposed sales tax is expected to bring in approximately $1.2 million in additional revenue for the districts.
