The Hamilton County Schools plan to cut 88 positions to help meet a budget shortfall of over $11 million, officials said Thursday.

Tommy Kranz, finance director, said many of the reductions will be handled through not filling vacant positions, from retirements and from employees not returning.

But he said up to 20 employees could be told they no longer have employment with the schools. He said officials are working to try to find a way to reduce that number - perhaps to zero.

Mr. Kranz said 15 of the cuts will be from the central office.

County school employees will also have to make higher contributions toward health insurance for dependents.

With the reductions, pupil-teacher ratios will be going up slightly.

For the high schools, it will go from 16.58 to 17.23. For the middle schools, it will go from 18.25 to 18.82. For the elementary schools, it will go from 16.75 to 16.91.

Mr. Kranz said the reductions were made to try to have the least effect on the classroom.

The county schools are facing these higher costs:

Medical insurance $3.4 million
Salary increase $2.9 million
STEP pay increase $2.3 million
Utilities $1.3 million
Custodial $816,096
Internet connectivity $300,000
Certified state retirement $288,000
Transportation $244,520
HR substitute finder $5,000
Staff for the new Signal Mountain school $1,375,000
Maintenance materials $500,000

Those total $13.6 million.

The schools expect new revenue including $500,000 from sales tax and $2 million from growth in the property tax.

That leaves the $11.1 million shortfall.

The county schools plan to save $3.8 million on benefits. That includes changing the Blue Cross BlueShield pharmacy co-pay from two tier to three tier and lowering the retail pharmacy co-pay inventory from 90 days to 30 days.

Also the dependent payment will be increased $100 per month.

A new adult high school will be deferred, saving $449,918.

Mr. Kranz said some school improvements will come through an expected $4.3 million in new BEP revenue from the state.

That includes seven school nurses, six model classrooms, more mileage funds for student services and curriculum and instruction teacher, in-service staff development and instructional supplies and materials and numeracy coaches.

The total general purpose fund budget will rise by 2.33 percent from $291.5 million to $298.3 million.

There are 6,202 county school employees with 79 schools and 40,000 students.

The school board is set to meet in a special called session on April 29 to approve the budget.