NC budget cutbacks cost CMS $5.5 million

Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools is being asked to return $5.5-million in state funding by December 19th. It's part of a mid-year cut in education funding of $58-million the state is requesting from local districts. CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman does not expect to lay off any teachers in the short-term. "It is our intention to not do a decline in the number of teachers in classroom," says Gorman. "That is our hope for this year. I do expect that next year's budget will be difficult and that there could be changes for next year. But for this year, don't expect that." Gorman says CMS had expected the budget to be tight, so he froze hiring on administrative jobs and continues to cut travel and transportation costs in the district. But he says that may not be enough, in light of declining tax revenues. Next, the district will try to save several hundred thousand dollars by restructuring the CMS communications department.