Hamilton County School Board Budget Debate | Local News

Several Hamilton County Commissioners praised the school board for bringing a balanced budget to the presentation on Monday, May 19.

The funding plan closes over a $16 million deficit, after a highly contentious debate between school board members.

While the $674 million budget addresses several priorities, some parents say it continues to fall short in one critical area: exceptional education.

The board debated having a balanced budget or one with an additional monetary ask.

School system leaders repeatedly acknowledged that the cuts made to accommodate the deficit would affect services and outcomes for students and families, and several of their proposals faced heavy backlash from community members.

“This is a sincere request for intentional partnership. From the classroom to the bus stop, from the front office to the cafeteria, schools are where the next generation is shaped. And yet, as budgets tighten, schools are being asked to do more with a less –again,” writes the Association.

“The reality is this budget – and I’ve said it from the beginning – these are not superficial cuts,” Superintendent Justin Robertson said. “These are cuts that are hitting deep, and even though we’ve made cuts in the past, they’re not cuts that the everyday person would have felt.”

The final budget removes “half” a position of the principal’s choosing from every school, reduces benchmark testing from three times a year to once, and cuts more than $5 million from the central office.

It also gives all employees a one-time $2,000 bonus, but does not include years-of-service raises or an across-the-board increase.