CMS could take $40 million hit when stimulus runs out, Gorman says

CMS Superintendent Peter Gorman says he realizes teachers and staff are "struggling greatly" with morale amid the prospect of about $75 million dollars in cutbacks. About 1,000 employees, including 600 teachers will likely lose their jobs. "I just think if you go through a two-year cycle of this many cuts, there's just unease. People are looking over their shoulder, but it's not different than banking was or other fields." Gorman spoke Monday on WFAE's Charlotte Talks. He says CMS will have even more challenges next year, especially if state and local cuts continue. Thanks to stimulus money, Gorman says federal funds now make up 16 percent of the CMS budget. He says it was half that just four years ago. "Our problem is that federal chunk goes away in a year when the stimulus funds go away, so were facing an over $40 million dollar cut a year from now." The CMS board and the county commission meet Tuesday afternoon in a joint session to discuss the budget. A public hearing is also scheduled for Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.