The mayor also isn’t expected to support the construction of
any of the three proposed new schools when he unveils his recommended own
spending plan on May 11.
The school board in April approved a $441.5 million budget,
which was then sent over to the county mayor’s office to incorporate into the
overall spending plan for the entire county. The board also approved a $19.2
million capital plan that including some costs for building a middle school in
Hardin Valley and a new elementary school. In addition, the board voted to
include a middle school for the Gibbs community, but did not include or
designate monies to build it.
In an email sent Monday from Knox County Schools
Superintendent Jim McIntyre to school board members, McIntyre said Burchett “likely”
planned to appropriate $435 million for the schools. He also said that after
meeting with the county’s finance director he doesn’t feel that the mayor will
support any new school this year.
McIntyre noted, though, that Burchett does plan to cover the
almost $3 million early reading initiative that he established several years
ago.
The schools – if approved – would more than likely each cost
$2 million to $3 million annually to staff and operate. They also would cost
$20 million to $30 million to build.
Burchett, whose office declined to comment on Monday, will
present his budget next week before the Knox County Commission. The commission
will then spend the next couple of weeks reviewing it and making potential
changes.
The board, if it chose, could set aside more money for the
school system.
When McIntyre initially proposed his budget, it was already
above and beyond revenue projections by $5.5 million. Burchett expected
recommendation would add another $1 million to that.
The KCS proposed budget of $441.5 is a 3.9 percent increase,
or about $16.5 million jump, from the current school system spending plan.
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