Rockdale Citizen

CONYERS - Rockdale County Public Schools is one step closer to having its budget for the next school year complete.During its regular session monthly meeting Thursday night, the Rockdale County Board of Education unanimously approved a consent agenda, which included the adoption of the tentative budget for the 2009-10 school year.With no changes to what was presented in the work session the week before, the proposed tentative budget is $131,279,555, which is a decrease of $443,745, or .34 percent, from last year's budget.According to the proposed budget, RCPS is expecting an overall decrease in federal revenue, which is less than 1 percent of the general fund budget, a 2.62 percent increase in state revenue and a 2.41 decrease in local revenue.Officials expect a decrease in some areas of special education funding, ad valorem taxes and interest earned, but they expect an increase in several programs, including early intervention, other areas of special education, remedial education and English Speakers of Other Languages.Areas of expenditures that will be reduced include instruction, improvement of instructional services, general administration and maintenance and operations. Next year, RCPS plans to increase some expenditures such as pupil services, educational media services, school administration, business services and central support services.The Rockdale County BOE is expected to vote during its regular monthly meeting June 18 on the final budget. The board plans to meet for a monthly work session at 7 p.m. June 11. Both the work session and regular meeting will be held in the board room at the central office complex at 954 N. Main St. in Conyers.No public hearings or other budget meetings have been scheduled, but the school board is allowed to change any part of the budget until it approves the final budget in June.The school board plans to adopt a millage rate in July. Although it has not been officially set, RCPS Chief Financial Officer Lee Davis said last week that he doesn't expect it to change from the current 21 mills.Michelle Floyd can be reached at michelle.floyd@newtoncitizen.com.