Board approves the final budget for FY12
At the June 13th Dalton Board of Education meeting, the board approved the tentative budget of all funds for Fiscal Year 2012. Click here to view the final budget.
Board approves tentative budget for FY12
At the May 9th Dalton Board of Education meeting, the board approved the tentative budget of all funds for Fiscal Year 2012. Click here to view the tentative budget. The board will consider the final budget for fiscal year 2012 at the regular meeting scheduled for June 13th.
Budget-related Announcements Fiscal Year 2012 (July 2011-June 2012)
Superintendent Proposes Budget Reductions for FY12
At the April 11 Dalton Board of Education meeting, Superintendent Jim Hawkins proposed budget reductions for FY12. Click here to view the full presentation. To read the letter sent to the DPS Family, click here to open. To comment on these proposed reductions, send an email. Comments received by May 4, 2011, will be considered by the Board prior to action on the FY12 preliminary budget (at the meeting on May 9).
BOE Approves Budget Directives for FY12
On March 14, 2011, the Dalton Board of Education approved FY12 Budget Directives to be used in preparation of the Dalton Public Schools' budget for the upcoming year. Revenue forecasts indicate that the school district will lose a combined $4 million to $5 million from state and local funding sources next year. These Directives include: a budget without a millage rate increase, a school calendar with the same number of staff and student days as FY11 (180 and 175 days respectively), no reduction in positions as avoidable, and compensation reductions for all employees of no more than 2% of an individual employee's FY11 base salary. Click here for the full text of these directives. To view the related letter sent to DPS Family, click here.
Budget-related Announcements Fiscal Year 2011 (July 2010-June 2011)
BOE Votes to Keep Tax Rate Same (Sept. 13, 2010)
In its regular meeting on 9/13, the Dalton BOE voted to keep the school tax millage rate the same for 2010. After three public hearings, the members voted 3-1 to keep the rate at 7.845 mils. This is the same millage rate as in 2008 and 2009. While the FY11 school district budget is currently balanced, more state funding cuts are expected during this year. Since 2003, the state has made $17 million in austerity cuts to the district's funding. The district is working a multi-year plan to reduce spending, including $5 million in spending reductions implemented in this fiscal year alone. Reductions have included the elimination of 57.5 positions, two rounds of across-the-board pay cuts for all employees, and reductions to services and programs. Members of the Board expressed appreciation to the public for their input and participation in the process.
Budget-related announcements made during fiscal year 2010
Budget Update June 7, 2010
Anticipated Class Sizes for 2010-2011 School Year
As communicated several times throughout the months of March, April and May (see presentations below), Dalton Public Schools' Staffing Plan for the upcoming school year is built on the projection of the state's maximum class size plus two students. This is the same class size used in the 2009-2010 school year.
For next year, the school district has applied to the Georgia Dept. of Education for a waiver to allow for the state maximum plus three students. The district applied for this waiver because class sizes are constantly changing as students move in and out of the district throughout the year. It is not in students' best interests to shuffle a grade level and assign students to a new teacher and classroom mid-year, or several times in a year, because the class is one student more than anticipated.
In May, DPS issued contracts to teachers. The number of classroom teachers contracted was based on the following class sizes:
Pre-K: 20 students (with a teacher and paraprofessional for each class); excluded from waiver request
Kindergarten: 22 students (with a teacher and paraprofessional for each class)
Grades 1-3: 23 students
Grades 4-8: 30 students *
Grades 9-12: 34 students * (smaller number in classes such as science labs)
(*In classrooms with smaller square footage, fewer numbers of students are assigned. Of note, this impacts many classrooms at Dalton High and several at City Park.)
Budget Update May 28, 2010
FY11 Preliminary Budget Accepted by BOE
Superintendent Hawkins recommended a balanced FY11 general-fund, preliminary budget to the Dalton Board of Education. Both the revenues and expenditures equal $56.7 million, with an overall reduction of about $4.1 million as compared to this past fiscal year's budget. He explained that the budget reflects forecasts made with the information known to date and is subject to change if the amount of projected state or local revenues change. For example, during each of the past two budget years, DPS has experienced an additional $1.5 million decline in state funds between the time the budget is adopted and the fiscal year is completed.
The next step is to advertise the budget in the newspaper. (Click here to view online.) Action on the final budget is slated for the Board's regular session meeting on June 14.
Board Chairman Steve Williams said, "In my nine years on this Board, this budget has been the most difficult one that we have had to consider and I am grateful for all of the comments and suggestions offered by employees and community members during its development.”
Budget Update May 24, 2010
Dalton BOE To Hold Public Hearing Friday
Budget Update May 12, 2010
Click here for Budget Preparation Directives approved by Dalton BOE May 12.
For the plan and process used to reduce positions in the FY11 budget, click here (and click here for related BOE policy GAKA).
Budget Update, May 6-7, 2010
Click here for May 7 letter to employees and parents
Click here for budget-reduction details as presented to employees on Thursday, May 6
Click here for gifted program slides
Click on the player below to view Superintendent Hawkins' video message to employees.
Budget Update, March 26, 2010 -- Phase 1 proposed reductions for FY11
Click here for March 26 letter to employees and parents on Phase 1 proposed reductions for FY11.
For Superintendent Hawkins' full presentation on Phase 1 proposed reductions, click here.
If you would like to provide comments on Phase 1 proposed budget revisions, send an email.
Budget Update, March 14, 2010
Click here for Superintendent Hawkins' budget-update letter for parents.
Budget Update February, 8, 2010
If you are interested in viewing the video of Superintendent Jim Hawkins' update to principals and Board members in February, please send an email. It is a very large file and best viewed in another format.
Budget Update, July 22, 2009
DPS' Response to Governor Perdue's announcement on 7/21:
"We have been monitoring state- and local-revenue projections closely and budgeting conservatively; therefore, the Governor's announcement of another three-percent cut to education funding was not unexpected," said Deana Farmer, spokeperson for Dalton Public Schools. "Based on the information we have today, we estimate this will mean an additional revenue reduction from the state of approximately $1.5 million--that is above the state austerity cuts already included in the district's FY10 budget.
"At this time, DPS is continuing with implementation of the three-year budget-reduction plan developed with the input of our employees. To date, the efforts of our employees have allowed the district to reduce expenses by $5 million. This included an across-the-board pay reduction for all employees. This school year, committees comprised of employees will make recommendations to reduce the budget by an additional $1 million. We will refer the Governor's furlough suggestion to one of those committees for consideration. All DPS employees are to report to work as originally scheduled."
NOTE: Per the usual disclaimer, this is based on the information available to the school district today, 7/22/2009. We will keep you posted!
Budget Announcements Made During Fiscal Year 2009
Budget Update, May 11, 2009
Click here for proposed FY10 Budget.
For latest budget news, including the district's "Phase I" Stimulus Plan, click here.
Budget Update: May 1, 2009
Note about ARRA "stimulus" funding
DPS is continuing to gather input and has not made final decisions about this yet. This will be an agenda item for our May BOE meeting on the 11th. Click here to visit the Georgia Department of Education's website that lists the $ amounts AVAILABLE to districts.
Budget Update: March 4, 2009
Click here to access the budget-reduction information Superintendent Hawkins presented to staff on March 3.
Staff-Parent-Community Comment Period Open through 9am on March 9
Click here for a comment form to share your thoughts regarding the proposed budget-reduction recommendations. You may send the completed form to the office at your child's school, OR mail to Budget Reduction, c/o Dalton Public Schools, PO Box 1408, Dalton, GA 30722 OR just send your thoughts in an email to info@daltonpublicschools.com Thank you for your response!
Budget Update: Feb. 2, 9am , 2009
Due to projected shortfalls in revenue during the current and next two school years, Dalton Public Schools' superintendent, Dr. Jim Hawkins, met with staff in late January and asked for suggestions to cut the district's expenses. The goal is to reduce expenses in both this current year and next year for a combined reduction of $4 million. At these meetings, he announced some reductions totaling $776,000.
--A video excerpt of the related staff meetings follows these announcements.
--Click here for the related news release.
Important Dates:
March 9 Budget Work Session with Dalton Board of Education, 5:30pm at 100 South Hamilton Street
On the evening of March 3, check this page to review the DPS proposal to reduce expenditures. This plan will be presented to the Dalton Board of Education for action on March 9, 6;30pm. Comments from staff, parents and the community will be taken March 3-6. Stay tuned here for the details.
As previously announced, the Dalton Board of Education will hold a special meeting at noon on Friday, May 28, 2010, to receive the Dalton Public Schools' preliminary budget for fiscal year 2011 (FY11). After receiving the superintendent’s budget recommendation, the Board will conduct a public hearing and listen to anyone who wishes to offer comments on the preliminary FY11 budget. A copy of the FY11 preliminary budget is posted online (click here) and paper copies are available at the reception desk of City Hall, 300 West Waugh Street, Dalton, GA. Once the preliminary budget is approved, the Board will advertise it on the district’s website and in the The Daily Citizen. The Board is scheduled to consider and to take action on the final FY11 budget at its regular session meeting on June 14, 2010, at 6:30pm. The location for all of these meetings is 300 West Waugh Street.