Smith: Proration possible in new fiscal year

Published 6:58 pm Monday, August 23, 2010

School officials across the state have been told to prepare for the possibility of 3 to 5 percent proration in the new fiscal year, Brewton City Schools Superintendent Lynn Smith said Monday.

“It was thought that the Legislature had a good budget, but the growth just is not there,” Smith said.

One percentage of proration means a loss of about $60,000 to city schools, Smith said. Schools across the state were already prorated by 7.5 percent in the current fiscal year.

The school board approved its budget for fiscal year 2011 Monday. If there is no proration, Smith said it would be a “break-even year” for the school system.

Smith said the system is making the best of the situation despite cuts.

“Typically, we have about seven to eight (locally funded) teacher units,” he said. “We have none right now. We’re doing our best to break even with no local teacher units.”