School system bracing for tough road

Even as recently hired superintendent Wanda Creel was officially introduced to school system employees, Board of Education members were given the news last week to begin preparing for another tough budget process, which is slated to begin later this month.

Assistant superintendent for financial services Ken Cato has been preparing board members for what will be a tough year ahead. Cato said at last Thursday’s meeting that $1.5 million in automobile taxes are still outstanding, noting the system should have collected $6 million by this point.

Cato said there was some encouraging news concerning the recent Education Special Local Option Sales Tax Collection, which was close to $700,000.

“Maybe the economic tide is turning a little,” Cato said. “We are still not where we need it to be to turn our debt.”