columbus county schools budget analysis revised

COLUMBUS COUNTY SCHOOLS

Budget Analysis

INVEST IN NC’S FUTURE

FUND SCHOOLS FIRST


Public school budgets have been cut for three consecutive years.

Years2008-092009-102010-11

COLUMBUS COUNTY SCHOOLS2008-09 School Year

• North Carolina Public schools were required to revert $158 million in January 2009 and $41 million in June 2009.

• Columbus County Schools returned a total of $461,602.

• ABC incentive bonus for meeting high growth in tested areas was cut approximately 1/3 from $1,500 to $1,053 for teachers and from $750 to $527 for teacher assistants.


2008-09 School Year• The state placed a freeze of state funds from

April 2009 until end of school year except for salaries.

• The Governor mandated a state wide furlough equal to $65 million. Each employee received 10 hours of flexible time off in exchange for cutting ½ percent of their annualized salary in months May and June.


2009-2010 School Year• North Carolina Public Schools were hit at the

beginning of the school year with a LEA Adjustment (reversion) of $225 million.

• Columbus County Schools returned a total of $1,045,651 million.


2009-2010 School Year• Non-instructional Support Personnel (custodial and clerical)

cut $1,863,132• Improving Student Accountability funds eliminated; $227,696• Staff Development allotment eliminated; $63,000• Textbook funding cut $182,773• Central Office administration cut $60,000• Literacy Coaches eliminated; $244,162• ABC Incentive Pay eliminated• No pay increases.


2010-2011 School Year• North Carolina Public Schools were hit at the

beginning of the school year with a LEA Adjustment (reversion) of $304 million.

• Columbus County Schools returned a total of $1,387,696 million


2010-2011 School Year• Textbook funding cut• Mentor pay eliminated; $34,000• Instructional Supply allotment cut in half• Non-instructional Support Personnel

(custodial and clerical) cut approximately $1.8 million

• No pay increases

Total Licensed Staff Comparison:

2005-06 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11420

440

460

480

500

520

540

521

529

510

500 501

463

Num

ber o

f Lic

ense

d St

aff


Summary of Positions Lost Over 3 YearsDue to State cuts

• Teachers-51• Teacher Assistants-22• Guidance Counselors-5• Assistant Principals-4• Central Office Administration-1 Director & 1 Grant Writer• Transportation-2 Mechanics• Maintenance-1 Assistant Director• Clerical/Secretarial-11• Custodial-1

• Total of 99 positions


• Even though 99 positions were lost during the past three years, Columbus County Board of Education made a commitment to use Federal Stimulus funds to save jobs.– 28 teachers, 2009-2010– 23 teachers, 2010-2011

• Stabilization Funds were used to maintain custodial staff:– 65 custodial employees, 2009-2010 & 2010-2011

Funding for Columbus County Schools2010-2011

• State = 67% (Funding will reduce in 2011-2012 based on any proposed cuts)

• Local = 14%• Federal = 14% (Reduction in 2011-2012; elimination of Federal Stimulus funds)

(School Year 2007-08 Federal Funds was 8%)

• Other = 5%– More-At-Four, Early Reading First, ROTC, JCPC,

GEARUP, Indian Education, other miscellaneous grants

• Allowed flexibility to use Federal Stabilization funds to pay Non-Instructional Support Personnel (custodians) 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.

• Allowed flexibility to use lottery funds for employment of teachers 2010-2011. Columbus County Schools estimated lottery distribution is $532,775 for 2010-2011.

• Board of Educations were given flexibility to implement employee furloughs to save jobs 2010-2011.

North Carolina General Assembly

North Carolina Budget Deficit Analysis2011-2012

• North Carolina’s budget deficit is approximately$2.4 billion for the 2011-12 fiscal year per Governor Perdue’s budget proposal on February 17th.

• The cause of the deficit is: end of federal stabilization funds; end of some state taxes; end of nonrecurring cuts.

• Economic recovery continues to be slow.• Based on the most recent NEA rankings, NC is 42nd on

per pupil spending in the amount of $8,743 compared to national average of $10,190 .

• Prior to the Governor’s budget proposal, she and the Office of State Budget Management requested state agencies to submit plans for 5%, 10% and 15% cuts for school year 2011-2012.

2011-2012 School Year

• What did this mean for K-12 education in Columbus County?

5% = $2,448,05710% = $3,668,24015% = $4,888,423


5% cut • Amount: $2,448,057– 22 Teaching positions– 4 Instructional Support positions– 1 Assistant Principal position– 9 Teacher Assistant positions


10% cut• Amount: $3,668,240– 26 Teaching positions– 4 Instructional Support positions– 2 Assistant Principal positions– 36 Teacher Assistant positions


15% cut • Amount: $ 4,888,423– 30 Teaching positions– 4 Instructional Support positions– 3 Assistant Principal positions– 45 Teacher Assistant positions

For Columbus County Schools,cuts of that magnitude coupled with the

end of federal stimulus dollars would represent…

Possible State Cut Federal Stimulus $$ Coming to an End

Potential Impact

5% = $2,448,057 $3,588,919 $6,036,976

10% = $3,668,240 $3,588,919 $7,257,159

15% = $4,888,423 $3,588,919 $8,477,342


In addition:• State cuts to Central Office Administration:– 5% cut = $41,107– 10% cut = $82,214 – 15% cut = $123,321

2011-2012 School Year• Due to end of Federal Stimulus and Federal

Stabilization funds, Columbus County Schools will lose:–36 teaching positions

Governor’s Proposed BudgetFebruary 17, 2011

• Extend the state sales tax increase.• Cut school technology, textbooks and staff

development• Transferring $100 million in state funded costs

to local school systems.– (Worker’s compensation, student transportation costs

including tort accident claims and bus replacement)


• Cut more than 4,400 jobs across the state:• 1,900 Bus driver positions• 1,700 Clerical and custodial positions

• 8 custodian for Columbus County Schools• As clerical positions become vacant, duties are reassigned where

possible• 290 Counselors, social workers, media coordinators and school

nurses• 2 Instructional Support Positions for Columbus County Schools

• 140 Central office positions• 1 director for Columbus County Schools

• 380 Assistant principal positions• 2 Assistant Principals for Columbus County Schools


• Even though Governor Perdue has promised not to cut teachers or teacher assistants, her proposal requires a discretionary cut of $305 million to North Carolina Public Schools funding.– Columbus County Schools amount to cut would be

approximately $1.3 million. In school year 2010-2011 this caused a loss of 25 teaching positions.


• Cuts to state employee benefits:– State employees will pay $252 per year for

individual medical insurance coverage– Freezing longevity pay to 2010-2011 levels

2011-2012 School YearBased on the Governor’s proposal plus the end of Federal Stimulus and Stabilization funds, Columbus County Schools could be forced to cut

74 positions/individualsColumbus County Schools student enrollment for 2009-2010 was 6,719; our current 5th month student enrollment is 6,425 a difference of 294 students. The drop in enrollment will result in decreased funding for 2011-2012 causing additional cuts on top of the 74 positions. This equates to 12 teaching positions. Total of 86 positions.

Columbus County Schools professional and classified personnel reduction in force policy is found in the Personnel Guidebook on the Columbus County Schools website.


• EduJobs: October, 2010 Columbus County Schools received Federal Education Jobs Fund in the amount of $1,455,839. The Board of Education reserved the funds to keep teacher positions in 2011-2012.– 26 teaching positions

• RttT: 2010-2011 Columbus County Schools will receive Federal Race to the Top funds in the amount of $1,323,319, targeted for specific purposes approved by the NC Department of Public Instruction and the US Department of Education.

COLUMBUS COUNTYUNEMPLOYMENT RATE

• The unemployment rate for December 2010 was 12.2% (2,961 unemployed individuals) compared to North Carolina’s state rate of 9.7%. In comparing the counties in educational region 4, Columbus County ranks the third highest out of 11 districts.

County Unemployment RateBladen 12.00%

Columbus 12.2%

Cumberland 9.00%

Harnett 10.4%

Hoke 9.3%

Lee 11.9%

Montgomery 11.6%

Moore 8.6%

Richmond 12.7%

Robeson 12.00%

Scotland 15.6%

North Carolina owes the federal government $2.6 Billion that has been borrowed over the past two years to pay unemployment wages for loss jobs.

General Assembly Response• No extension of the state sales tax increase• Senate Bill 8: Removal of the cap on charter schools• Must approve the flexibility to use lottery funds for employment of

teachers and the flexibility to implement employee furloughs to save jobs• Republican legislative leaders budget target is $1.6 billion less than the

Governor’s• Considering consolidate/eliminate Smart Start and More At Four programs• Considering an alternative salary schedule based on performance• Requiring state employees to pay $600 plus per year for individual medical

insurance coverage

NOWThe House of Representatives will prepare a budget proposal.The Senate will prepare a budget proposal.

WORST CASE LOCAL OPTIONS

• Across the board reductions• Cut all but essential positions• Transportation efficiencies or elimination

of program• Elimination of athletic programs• Consolidate and close facilities

NEXT STEPSWhat can I do NOW?

• Stay informed through news media and through NCDPI and your associations.• Contact your legislators:

– Senator Bill Rabon,• [email protected]• (919) 733-5963

– Representative Dewey Hill,• [email protected]• (919) 733-5830

• Contact the Governor:– Governor Beverly Perdue,

• [email protected]• (919) 733-4240

• Asking your Legislators to extend the state sales tax increase.

*Be courteous and professional as you discuss the budget crisis in North Carolina.

mailto:[email protected]



North Carolina General Assemblywww.ncga.state.nc.us

• Education and Appropriations on Education Committee Chairs:– Representative Bryan R. Holloway

• [email protected]• (919) 733-5609

– Representative James H. Langdon, Jr.• [email protected]• (919) 733-5849

– Senator Jean Preston• [email protected]• (919) 733-5706

– Senator Dan Soucek• [email protected]• (919) 733-5742

– Senator Jerry W. Tillman• [email protected]• (919) 733-5870

– Senator Tom Apodaca• [email protected]• (919) 733-5745







columbus county schools budget analysis revised

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