File photo: Dr LaDonna McFall Director of Coffee County Schools
“The school system cannot keep functioning with no additional money,” McFall told the Budget and Finance committee at a recent meeting.
The proposal calls for a 2 percent raise across the board, totaling $434,346. Also in the budget are four new teaching positions, totaling $224,892, and a series of additional costs that relate to the new middle school and some new buses, totaling an estimated $400,000. The buses will replace ones currently going out of service.
Committee chairman Rush Bricken commended the efforts on the budget, but warned that any department budget additions would have to come from a property tax increase.
Commissioner Mark Kelly warned that breaking the $3 tax rate would be a retail game changer.
County Mayor Gary Cordell said that the school budget will likely be discussed further at upcoming Budget and Finance meetings.
