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· :.' . d I v I~AI~ P. J March 22 1990 To: The Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners From: Conunissloner Simmons, School Bsard Liason Enclosed are several documents for your review. I think it is important that we give the county manager direction about what we expect in the county,s budget for current expense in the next fiscal year. The next fiscal year's budget is expected to be a fairly tight one. Since the school's current expense budget is a large item, we must plann for it. I reco~onend ts the board that we give the county manager the direction %o include a 52.S million increase for current expense budget for the two school systems as part 'of the county's balanced budget This should bring us close to the state average fundia~. At that time, we can consider the merits of each area of requested increase and it's oustification withou't throwing the entire budget out of balance by adding things back in. [ have listed below my reasons for makinE these recommendations: In 1986, our s6hool system stood at $105 per student below the state average In 1987 we fell to $123. In 1988 we fell to 51~0, and in ~989 we fell tC 515! below the state' average, Thls amounts to 52.5 million less per year our school boards have had which to operate. The magnitude of. this difference is even more dramatic when~you consider that in 1988 our school syste]~s stood at 57.5 million a year below the national average of state and local current expense funds. This kind of budgetary shortfall has had a dramatic effect upon the quality of classroom materials available, 'the salaries of school employees, and the z~lntenance for school buildings, Recent figures show that the Cabarrus County System spends $738,000 a year less on maintenance than the average soheol system of its size in the state. If we continue this trend of inadequate maintenance of our buildings, we will need another major school bond issue in the future. Recent figures also show that our system spends $350,000 less on Janitorial and operational expenses. We should spend enough money ts keep our children's schools as clean as we keep our county courthouse and other county facilities. Exhibit #1 shows the leadership role the Gaston County Board of Co~nnlssioners took in providing increased funds to their local school system. It was well received by the public. I feel we need to take the same leadership role in improvln~ our school system in this year's budget.