Superintendent's $1.6B Proposed Operating Budget Reflects Stability, Innovation

Dr. William R. Hite Jr., Superintendent of Schools, presented his Fiscal Year 2013 Proposed Operating Budget to the Board of Education on Thursday, a $1.6 billion spending plan that reflects a stable fiscal outlook.     

The proposed budget includes a $238,200 increase over last year to bring the total budget to $1,614,596,800. 

The school system faces a $44 million budget gap due to declining enrollment and rising costs in employee health ($14 million) and retirement benefits ($2.2 million), and fuel ($1.3 million). 

“Despite our challenges in this tough economic climate, our goal is to create a budget that keeps  our schools moving forward,” said Dr. Hite. “We have made difficult cuts and we still face difficult decisions. However, we must focus our vision and priorities on the school district’s long-term success.”