Pembroke Pines Charter Schools Facing $5 Million Budget Gap

PEMBROKE PINES (CBS4) - Pembroke Pines officials are looking at some hard choices if they want to keep the doors of their city-run charter schools open.

The five schools, which serve 5,600 students, are facing a $5 million budget deficit and they only have $5.6 million in reserves.

City leaders are expected to decide Wednesday on the best way to close the budget gap. Options include holding back merit raises for teachers and reducing salaries by 1 percent, firing all teacher aids, or not buying new science books.

Last year unexpected grants helped cover a $3 million budget gap.

The city already holds an annual fundraiser called "Taste of Pines." Officials recently hired an employee to raise money for the charter system. She's expected to bring in $750,000 this year.

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