Budget Concerns

By Angela Hatton

Clarksville, TN – Montgomery County Tennessee School District officials wonder if they will be able to keep up student achievement levels through the next budget cycle. The state school report card released Monday gives the district top scores in all categories, even though the board cut 5-point-3 million dollars from this year's budget. Schools spokesperson Elise Shelton says the average Tennessee county gets 32-percent of its operating budget from the state, but Montgomery County gets 41-percent. Shelton says this year's shortfall resulted in after school program and supply budget cuts. Residents recently thwarted local efforts to increase funding for schools by voting down a wheel tax to cover school transportation costs. Shelton says the school is looking at a 2-point-4 million dollar fuel deficit next year. She says a downward turn in funding could mean a downturn in education standards.