Funding Crisis Facing Kent Schools For 2004

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Thu 17th Jul 2003

Lib Dems want local schools to know what funding they should expect for next year.

At County Council today, Martin Vye pressed the Conservative administration to inform the people of Kent about the size of the funding crisis facing Kent schools next year.

He said:

"We know that this year 57 of our schools are operating a budget deficit - effectively borrowing money which they will have to start paying back next year. On top of that the County Council is predicting a drop of school reserves from £30 million to £15 million. Schools have carefully saved this money to pay for worthwhile building projects, which will now not happen."

Mr Vye, therefore, asked the Cabinet Member for Education:

"How much extra money will KCC have to put into schools next year to ensure they at least break even?"

Mr Carter - Cabinet Member for Education replied:

"We will have to wait until we know all the figures on pay and Government grant."

Martin went on to say:

"That is not good enough. We shall not know these details until next February. In fact, the County Council are quite capable now of working out a ballpark figure. There are almost certainly going to have to be hard choices made for next year. It is vital we have very soon a general idea of the size of the financial hole schools will be in. Then the administration need to get out and consult properly with the people of Kent about what balance they wish to see between painful high taxes on the one hand, and damage to schools on the other."