Work has begun on preparing next year's budget for the Fulton County School System.

Public Information officer Adrian Bailey said schools and department heads are busy assesing their needs and will soon submit preliminary numbers for the FY 2001-2002 budget.

Last year's budget was $542 million and Bailey expects numbers to be similar for this year's proposal.

The budget process is a lengthy series of meetings and proposals that actually started in October.

When students and employees come back to school after the winter break, officials will start crunching numbers on enrollment projections.

In February, department heads will submit their figures for their needs.

Starting in late February and continuing through the spring, Fulton County school board members will examine the figures and conduct a series of public hearings on the proposed budget.

In April, the board will adopt a tentative budget and property tax rate.

The final budget will be approved at the board's June 14 meeting.