Wednesday, May 19, 2004

School budget outlook improving By JOHN THOMPSON jthompson@TheCitizenNews.com The outlook for the Fayette County School System’s 2005 budget appears to be getting rosier. Earlier this year, the system was looking at a possible $7 million deficit, but Comptroller Jim Stephens told the Fayette County Board of Education Monday night that things are looking markedly better. “Last week, the legislature restored $204 million to the education budget. It’s been a very strange budget year,” Stephens said. Stephens also said the tax commissioner’s office is now estimating the tax digest to grow at 6 percent this year, instead of earlier 5-percent projections. With all the additions put back into the $154 million general fund budget, Stephens said the system is still looking at about a $730,000 deficit. “But if the digest grows higher, that could be eliminated,” he said. School officials were looking at possibly having to raise millage rates this year, but Stephens said that may be avoidable if the projections hold true. School officials are looking at tentative budget approval June 2, with the final approval coming at its June 21 meeting.