No Job Cuts, Furloughs In Planned Douglas County School Budget

DOUGLASVILLE, GA — Douglas County’s board of education has tentatively approved a leaner budget with fewer positions through attrition while avoiding job cuts or furlough days for remaining employees.

The $252 million budget for fiscal year 2021 is about $10 million less than last year’s, thanks to economic strain because of the coronavirus pandemic.

“We are very pleased with this budget,” Douglas County Schools Superintendent Trent North said to The Douglas County Sentinel. “This conservative budget allows us to keep everyone gainfully employed and to continue investing in initiatives already in the works prior to COVID-19.”

While Douglas County’s tax digest increased by more than 5 percent, the county also lost $17 million from the state under the Georgia General Assembly’s reduced budget. At the same time, the district picked up $4.9 million in CARES Act coronavirus relief funds.

The budget includes using $1.5 million of the districts $44 million reserve fund to help make ends meet.

The budget also projects saving money by eliminating 38.75 teaching positions and 21 paraprofessional positions through attrition.

The school board will hold a public hearing on the budget on Aug. 3.