GUILFORD COUNTY – With Commissioner Steve Arnold taking the lead, county leaders began to focus closely Tuesday on the school district’s upcoming budget.

Arnold, a High Point Republican, said he wants to know “how every dime is spent.”

County taxpayers provided $175 million this year for the school district’s $591 million budget. Arnold, Guilford County Board of Commissioners vice chairman, said he wants to know which expenses are state mandated and which are local options.

“I want to know every line item,” Arnold said.

Arnold mentioned possibly replacing school resource officers in the middle schools with security guards. He also complained that the school board has often shown up at the last minute too many times with a budget.

“We need to find a way of working better together than your showing up at the last minute,” Arnold told a budget committee of commissioners and school board members, “so that we have to see the signs about not hurting our teachers.”

Commissioners said they are looking for ways to save.

“We need to see the expenditures, and what’s left for the year,” said Democratic Commissioner Bruce Davis of High Point. “If you have not spent some funds, then you may be able to reroute some of that.”

Sharon Ozment, district chief financial officer, warned the district could face state cuts again this year ranging from $11 to $25 million. State cuts in the current budget totaled $22 million.

Superintendent Mo Green welcomed the opportunity to show commissioners the district’s budget process and needs listed in the district’s strategic plan.

“We know the superintendent has a vision, “ said at-large Democratic Commissioner John Parks of High Point.

“We need to see what it costs and what we may have to turn down.”

“We need more dialog about what plan initiatives are working and what needs to be sustained,” said at-large school board member Sandra Alexander.

dnivens@hpe.com | 888-3626

Baseline

–

The school district could be faced with more than $4 million in increased funding needs next year to cover increasing enrollments, staff retirement and benefit contributions.

A committee of four commissioners and four school board members will meet again Feb. 10 to start a series of budget reviews.