STONE MOUNTAIN, GA (CBS ATLANTA) -
The DeKalb County Board of Education declared bad news on what was already a bad situation Monday night, when they said their budget deficit for the coming school year is $12 million worse than originally thought. A school board spokesman blames it on property values that are expected to decline more than expected.
The school board gets most of its revenue from property tax collection within the county.
"It's looking more like we're going to have a 9 percent decline (in property value), which is another $12 million that we have to find either in cuts or revenue to the district," said school board spokesman Walter Woods. Originally, he said they were going on the prediction that property values would decline 6 percent from last year.
"It's not a mistake, it's just that it's hard to get a number in these times. With the recession, and assessing property values, it's difficult."
Cuts to Fernbank Science Center and school transportation, increases in class sizes and teacher furlough days are already part of the plan to close the budget gap. So far, no teacher layoffs have been planned.
Woods says "everything is on the table" to help close the additional $12 million deficit.
CBS Atlanta will have more on this story at 4, 5 and 6 this afternoon.
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