Tough budget choices ahead for Catawba County Schools
NEWTON, NC (WBTV) – The Catawba County School System is facing a four million dollar budget shortfall if projections of revenue stay the same, said Superintendent Glenn Barger on Tuesday.
"It's hard to plan for something like that," he said.
State revenue is still a problem and county sales tax revenue has not been as strong as it was years ago, he said.
Stimulus money helped in recent years but that money has run out, for the most part. The system did save more than two million dollars and that could help make up some of the shortfall along with money from savings, but the shortfall won't end with the coming year said Barger so tough choices might have to be made.
"Yes, layoffs are possible," he said.
Teachers are worried about what it will mean for the classrooms. Officials say no schools will be closed because enrollment is strong but class size may be larger if cuts are made to the ranks of teachers.
