Nashville Schools Face $14 Million Shortfall; Layoffs Likely

Nashville Public Schools are now facing an estimated $14 million shortfall for the current budget year. Layoffs appear likely.

Metro Schools were already expecting an $11 million shortfall based on slumping tax revenues for the first four months of the budget year.

Yesterday Metro Finance department ratcheted that estimate up to $14 million, saying declines had gotten even steeper.

School board budget and finance chair Steve Glover says layoffs are the only option left.

“We’re at the end of the rope. There’s no safety net remaining, and so anything we do now is going to be a hard fall.”

Glover says the board already instituted a hiring freeze and began making non-personnel cuts to close the gap, and he expects it will use some $5 million in reserves. It will be up to the full board to decide how to proceed.