NEW HANOVER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — A budget work session took place in New Hanover County Thursday afternoon discussing the upcoming fiscal year.
One major and on-going topic of discussion is funding for New Hanover County Schools.
During previous budget work sessions, we learned that funding for the school district takes up the largest portion of the county’s yearly budget.
This year, adjustments are having to be made due to a hefty shortfall. Around $10 million of the $20 million shortfall is a loss of federal COVID relief funds. Enrollment numbers are also to blame for lack of funding, along with prior year’s usage of the fund balance.
County Manager Chris Coudriet said a plan must be in place, given the shortfall, and a solution is needed.
“We know definitively, state and federal money will continue to contract because their single measure of funding is how many children are in the schoolhouse, which is fewer than the year before,” Coudriet said.
The district said it needs to cut 280 positions to balance the budget. Currently, there is a planned reduction of 170 positions by June 30 this year.