Huntsville, AL – The Huntsville City School system is reevaluating its budget and is implementing measures that officials say will allow the school district to be out from under a $20 million budget shortfall.
The school system hired Ed Richardson to evaluate spending and see what areas could be reworked. Richardson says his efforts have eliminated more than $28 million in operating costs by examining areas like transportation costs and personnel costs.
Richardson says $2 million more a year could be saved if the district consolidates its schools. Additionally, an estimated $80,000 more could be saved if a new cell phone contract is used and more than 50 of the district's vehicles are sold.
Huntsville City Schools is expected to be out of debt in two years and have a one-month operating budget restored.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)