Carthage ISD is facing a multi-million budget shortfall this year as the Additional State Aid for Tax Reduction (ASATR) program expires. The ASATR program helped provide additional money to the district following state cuts to education funding about a decade ago, and Carthage ISD's budget still relied heavily on that program.
A state education funding bill signed last week will provide some relief, but Superintendent Glenn Hambrick said the district still is projected to lose around $6 million of its $23 million budget.
Hambrick said district officials are considering increasing the maintenance and operations tax rate to $1.04 per $100 valuation, the maximum rate allowed before a tax ratification election is triggered. The district's current tax rate stands at 90 cents per $100 valuation for maintenance and operations and 24 cents for the debt service budget, for a total tax rate of $1.14 per $100 valuation.
"Obviously if you cut a fourth of your funding, it has a significant impact on your district since 80 percent of your funds or your budget is for personnel," Hambrick said. "You can't operate on a multi-million dollar deficit on a yearly basis or you'll be broke."
The district cut 32 positions this summer, including Police Chief Chris Hardy, a night watchman and one of two people stationed at the high school guard shack. Those eliminated jobs also include some administrative, bus monitor and teacher aide positions — and cuts through attrition. Hambrick said those 32 positions follow 40 more the district has cut in recent years to trim its budget down.