Metro Nashville Public Schools administration presented a first draft of the district’s proposed operating budget for Fiscal Year 2009-2010 during a March 4 meeting of the district’s Budget and Finance Committee. The document includes reductions totaling $15.4 million that are necessary for the district to maintain its current level of funding and pay for required additions in employee compensation, opening and closing of schools, including two new charter schools, and costs approved as part of the district’s reassignment plan.
Both district administrators and board members emphasized that this first document is an initial starting point for discussion on next year’s budget. Many necessary pieces of information are still unavailable, including the amounts of local, state and federal funding MNPS can expect to receive for 2009-2010. Budget discussions will continue in the coming weeks, with changes being made as more information becomes available. The Board must submit an approved budget document to Mayor Karl Dean in April. A final budget recommendation will be forwarded by Mayor Dean to the Metro Council for consideration by May 1.
