The Gilchrist County School District received their projected cuts from Tallahassee and like other districts across the state, the numbers were higher than they expected.

$200,000 was held back from the general budget for this school year and another $300,000 was held as a reserve for an anticipated decline in student enrollment.

District officials say the timing of the cuts makes things worse. They say its easier to deal with cuts in the summer when salary negotiations have not been finalized and prior commitments haven't been made.

Superintendent Don Thomas says the budget cuts will mean an increase in class sizes as well as cuts to technology, maintenance and supplies.

By making cuts in these areas, Thomas is trying to avoid major cuts to personnel and save as many jobs as possible. That will be difficult considering salaries and benefits comprise eighty percent of the general budget.

School districts statewide are projected to lose an average of about $141 per student.

This is a projected two percent funding loss for every district. Please see the figures below for a breakdown of the projected school cuts by county.