Brunswick County Schools Superintendent Edward Pruden hopes members of Congress and President Barack Obama can reach a compromise before the New Year to avoid the so-called fiscal cliff.
If not, Brunswick County classrooms could experience what Pruden calls “devastating cuts.”
At stake for Brunswick County Schools if a compromise is not reached and sequestration—predetermined, automatic spending cuts—takes effect is about $6.4 million, Pruden said.
In the current fiscal year’s budget, Brunswick County Schools received a total of $6.7 million in federal funding. Of that total amount, up to $6.4 million could be in jeopardy if sequestration kicks in, Freyja Cahill, finance director for the school system, explained. The cuts would be implemented in the 2013-2014 fiscal year budget, Cahill said.
The roughly $300,000 in federal funds that would not be cut are for exceptional children programs and career and technical education programs, Cahill said.
In the classrooms, 128 teacher positions could be cut if sequestration takes place.
If sequestration were to take place, Pruden said the Office of Management and Budget would determine what percentage, if any, of the $6.4 million to cut.
Pruden said sequestration would be a “dire step” for the country, adding school officials have been lobbying their U.S. Representatives to strike a deal.
“We are just hoping our federal leaders can do the right thing,” Pruden said.
Port City Daily recently spoke with U.S. Reps. Mike McIntyre, D-Lumberton, and Walter Jones, R-Farmville, about the federal tax breaks, including the 2001 and 2003 “Bush tax cuts” and the 2-percent payroll tax break, which are set to expire, making up the so-called fiscal cliff.
