A “bad” time to prepare a school budget

The delay in and uncertainty over state aid for local education has complicated the new budget for the Oconee public schools. That’s the job of Gloria Moore, finance director for the Oconee School District. Her latest projection is that, for the 2020-21 year, the public schools face a deficit of $2.4 million. Talks with the Oconee County Council have started and are scheduled to resume next week about monies the county might put forward to help ease any further drawdowns of the district’s fund balance. On the recommendation of Moore and Dr. Michael Thorsland, district superintendent, the county school trustees gave first reading to a budget that holds the line on teacher pay raises. Moore told the trustees that COVID-19 considerations are liable to push back a decision on state aid until September, which is the month that the county’s tax levy for 2020 will likely be set. “It’s really a bad place to be,” Moore said.