WMBB News 13 - The Panhandle's News LeaderBay Schools Begin Budget Process

Even though the state legislature vows to give back more than $1 billion dollars to education this year, the Bay District Schools' budget workshop was still grim Tuesday. 

The school district is beginning its budget process.  It bases the budget on the final numbers brought down by the State Legislature.  Even though numbers from the state show about $4 million dollars are coming back to Bay District Schools, the district will still have a shortfall of about $12-13 million dollars, that's thanks to a loss in federal dollars, loss of property taxes and increase in the number of students enrolling in Florida schools. 

"Just those three take the revenue back out of over a billion dollars. Roughly, I would say we would need statewide $1.3 billion to hold us harmless from last year," said Bay District Schools Chief Financial Officer, Jess Snyder. 

The district estimates it will have to cut about $10 million dollars in next year's budget.  They are looking at a number of ways to do so, including changing the high school schedule and privatizing school services.