Forsyth County Commissioners to develop funding formula for public school system

The Forsyth County Board of Commissioners has approved its list of priorities for the next three to five years.

One of them is developing a sustainable funding formula for the public school system. 

The board worked with the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners back in January to create a list of goals for the future. 

Education was a main area of focus. Commissioners were specifically interested in developing a funding formula for Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools.

“When you hear funding formula, the first thing that you're going to cement in your mind is, ‘Oh, we're going back. They're taking things away.’ And it's really not that," said Commissioner Tonya McDaniel. "It's an opportunity for them to come to the table tell us what their needs are, versus us going back and haggling, that's what I call it, back and forth during our budget season.”

County officials say a formula would make budgeting more predictable for both the school district and commissioners.

The board voted unanimously to approve this goal, and several others related to things like affordable housing, health and public safety.

Amy Diaz covers education for WFDD in partnership with Report For America. You can follow her on Twitter at @amydiaze.