Budget Concerns Put Some Polk Schools Projects on Hold

Editor's note: This is the full version of the story that began on page B1 in Wednesday's edition.By SHOSHANA WALTERTHE LEDGERBARTOW | This year has not been kind to the budgets of many public institutions in Florida, and the Polk County School Board's budget is no exception.

State budget cuts, a struggling economy and ongoing litigation mean fewer financial resources for Polk schools. And that means some plans are being put on hold.

At a work session Tuesday, School Board members heard proposed revisions to the board's five-year work plan, including postponing the construction of 12 new schools and 11 construction projects at existing facilities.

The plan now calls for the construction of just four schools - Horizon Elementary, Spessard Holland Elementary, Middle School BB on Spirit Lake Road and the replacement building for Davenport School of the Arts.

The proposal, presented by Bob Williams, assistant superintendent of facilities and operations, did not seem to come as a surprise to board members.

"We don't have a lot of money, and with the lawsuit and the cuts, a lot of the things we wanted to do we aren't able to do because we don't have the resources," said board member Kay Fields.

The change of plans is the result of a number of factors, Williams said, including the state's elimination of class size-reduction funds this year.

That money is used for building construction to accommodate expanding student populations.

County impact fees for schools are also down. The fees are paid when people purchase homes or commercial buildings.

Home sales are down, which means funds for the schools are, too.

Two years ago, the board received about $30 million in impact fees. This year, the board expects about $4 million, Williams said.

But Williams said he expects the economic downtown to be temporary. He hopes the state will reinstate class size-reduction funding. In the meantime, the need for new facilities is not as great as the original proposal, written last year, projected.

Student enrollment this year did not increase as much as expected, decreasing the need for so many new facilities.

The projects that are going forward are in areas of predicted growth, Williams said.

School Board members will vote on the proposed five-year plan in September.

[ Shoshana Walter can be reached at 863-802-7590 or shoshana.walter@theledger.com. ]