INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — The Indian River County School Board met Tuesday to discuss options to carve money out of its budget in the face of anticipated cuts at the state level.The district is looking for ways to shave over $12 million from its budget as state legislators are signaling a 3 percent reduction in funding.Aside from cutting operations and shutting down of Thompson Magnet School, the board has identified over 139 teaching and staff support positions that could be at risk the end of 2011.Those positions currently are being funded or are targeted to be funded by federal stimulus money that will run out next year. The teaching and support jobs would either then have to be paid through the general fund or eliminated.Another option the district could consider is a tax increase of 0.25 per $1,000 assessed value which could raise $3.5 million. A home with an assessed value of $159,600 and a $25,000 homestead exemption would pay an extra $33.65 to go into the school budget.
