(MOBILE, Ala.) School systems across Alabama are slashing their budgets once again. Gov. Robert Bentley declared proration for education Monday night.
Bentley says the education fund is facing a $165 million shortfall, which means schools must cut 3 percent from their budgets. That's $9 million for Mobile County, and $3 million in Baldwin County. The good news is, both school systems say they have the funds to cover it, so teachers and students won't face anymore cuts. However, next year is where officials say things could take a downward turn.
Wade Perry represents the Mobile Teachers Union, and says teachers are wondering what's going to happen next. "What we are really worried about it, is the next budget year, and legislative session that starts on Monday," Perry said.
"The governor has projected a 12 percent cut next year, that's $12 million on top of $3 million from Monday, so it just gets worse and worse," said Baldwin County Schools spokesperson Terry Wilhite. "We hope that today will serve as a lesson to our legislators in the upcoming session, that a realistic budget is passed, one that is based on revenue today, not anticipated revenue."
