Clarke County Board of Education Okays $120 Million Budget

The Clarke County Board of Education on Thursday approved a proposed $120.4 million budget for the 2013-14 school years, as it was expected to since members had tentatively approved it weeks ago.

According to a story in the Athens Banner Herald, the board will keep the millage rate at 20 mils, the maximum allowed. A referendum would be needed to go to a higher rate.

The story says that most workers in the school district workers will take five unpaid furlough days under the new spending plan. Top administrators will take six days. Such as school bus drivers and food service personnel, among those paid the least, will not take furlough days.

There will be a workforce reduction, mostly by attrition. With expenses about $2.4 million over revenues, the school district will used school reserve funds to cover the difference, the story says.