February 8th, 2012 by WCBC Radio
The Allegany County Board of Education is prepared for what is expected to be one of its most challenging budget processes in recent memory. State cuts could range anywhere between $5 and $7 million. The state’s wealth index brings further cuts to the county; and there exists the real possibility that- after years of threats- half the cost of teacher pensions will be shifted to local governments. With state dollars drying up- the local school system will be more reliant on county funding than ever before- however that’s been a point of contention in recent years. While the commissioners have touted a steady maintenance of effort and an increase in education dollars- school board members have called that fuzzy math, pointing out that the percentage of the county’s overall budget allocated to education has dropped dramatically in the past decade. Superintendent David Cox says he understands the county’s difficulty in continuing to provide adequate funding at a time when costs are increasing and revenues are declining…
.jpg)
