Published: Thursday, March 4, 2010

By Sydney Holtzclaw
Madison Magazine

Proration. It's a term that has become familiar in Alabama households over the past two years as the state budget for public schools and colleges has repeatedly been cut. On Thursday Feb. 25, the Madison City School Board voted to cut another million dollars from its 2009-10 operating budget due to lack of funding from the state.

"I wish I could stand here and give you a pretty budget picture," Lisa McMurray, interim finance director said. "But, this budget amendment is due to a 7.5 percent cut in this year's education trust fund budget because of lower than expected tax collections in the recession."

According to McMurray's report the 2009-10 budget started with the receipt of $43 million from the state but has been reduced to $40 million.

"We had a net loss of just over $3 million. With a great deal of belt tightening, donations, and aid from the government we've been able to make it without any school employees losing their jobs," McMurray said.

Included in the funds raised over the course of this fiscal year was a $25,000 donation from Boeing and $200,000 of Impact aid money. McMurray also said the school system was able to cut their budget by $650,000 by asking principals to hold off on hiring if they could.

"We originally budgeted for ten local units for growth, but we only hired four teachers," McMurray said.

Despite the recent budget cut the Madison City School district has a 43-day operating reserve fund. This comes as good news to the board members and city with the bleak outlook concerning budgets next year.

"I'm very pleased that we received some very sound advice from our financial department, and we were able to maintain our 43-day reserve fund. Mrs. McMurray has done an outstanding job," said School Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler.

Board member Terri Johnson, who teachers at the University of Alabama in Huntsville said that while she was grateful for the work of McMurray and the finance department she is worried about continuing proration.

"We can't keep this up and be Madison City Schools; it's still hurting us," she said.

During her legislative report, board member Sue Helms said 3,500 teachers in Alabama could lose their jobs if the state does not get a stable budget. "In Montgomery they're on hold with budgets. We're in a balancing act. We need stable budgeting. We're all scared; we don't know where we're going to get hit," Helms said.

According to recent reports out of the legislative session, key legislators believe they may delay voting on next year's state budget until late this month in hopes of Congress passing additional stimulus money to help boost the state's budget.