The school board unanimously ratified the new tax proposal as a way to help reduce a $2.5 million deficit for the coming school year. Elected school officials explained that the magnitude of cuts threatening public schools made it necessary to seek a local tax for education.
“We need a parcel tax,” board member Kirk Riemer said. “It’s inexcusable for us not to look at this.”
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But district officials highlighted the severity of possible cuts they are facing. School officials passed out a new list of possible cuts during the public meeting, which sequenced the cuts according to a survey by the school board. At the top of the list were cuts to school clerical staff, high school athletics and layoffs of custodians. The least likely cuts identified on the list included closing Kings Mountain Elementary and eliminating school counselors and elementary school teachers.
Even if passed, the new tax proposal would still leave the district with about $1 million in cuts to make.
The school district will be starting negotiations later this month with its employee unions for possible cost savings including furlough days, salary reductions and shortening the school calendar by five days.
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