DeKalb Schools postpones budget decision - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

DeKalb County Schools postponed a final decision on budget cuts on Wednesday.

School officials are considering a number of measures to reduce its budget, which is projected to have a shortfall of $85 million. That's $12 million more than was originally expected.

Among the proposals are shortening the school year by 10 years in order to save money, cutting funds for DeKalb's Fernbank Science Center and cutbacks for pre-kindergarten, Montessori and magnet schools in addition to personnel reductions and bigger class sizes.

"Can we meet the goals for this school district based on the budget? We must. We have 98,000 students depending on us, regardless of the financial situation, to make it happen," said DeKalb Schools Superintendent Cheryl Atkinson.

All of those steps have resulted in objections, but so has the possibility of a property tax increase to raise school revenue. Atkinson had proposed a two mill tax increase. That would mean about a $140 annual tax increase for the owner of a $200,000 home.

"I think there is a movement on the board not to raise taxes," DeKalb Schools spokesperson Walter Woods.

Board members said they needed more information on the proposal to shorten the school year, so they delayed a final vote. They will continue the budget meeting on Thursday at 6 p.m.

A budget must be in place by July 1.