By By Kerry Whipple Bean
publisher
Alabama school systems could see proration as high as 8.5 percent, Brewton City Schools Superintendent Lynn Smith said Monday.
Smith told school board members that each percentage of proration represents a little more than $60,000 for city schools.
State officials have said they expect Gov. Bob Riley to call for proration soon after the new fiscal year begins, because state tax collections have not followed expectations.
The state Legislature set the education budget last spring.
Smith said state officials will likely have a tough time budgeting next spring, as well.
Smith has said proration will not affect the planned building of a new middle school on U.S. 31 North.
He reminded board members bids for the project will be opened next month, with the project awarded on Oct. 19.
Several contractors have already inquired about the job, and school officials have said the slow economy might actually help them get a better bid price because so little school construction is under way in the state.