The Greater Johnstown Board of Education met Thursday night to work on a revised budget. It comes a week after a budget with a 35 percent tax levy increase was defeated.

With the clock ticking toward the revote, the board will move forward with a revised budget of $37.8 million.

It will carry a 14.6 percent tax levy increase, which requires just a simple majority to pass.

“There is not a member of this board of education, administration, or staff who is not devastated with this turn of events,” said Kathy Dougherty, Greater Johnstown Board of Education president.

This proposed budget will provide $200,000 from their savings for sports. An additional $311,000 will need to be fundraised to have all sports next year.

As for other extracurricular activities, $33,000 from savings will be used to retain some programs.

“The opportunity to fundraise for those for one year is a really important opportunity I hope the community can gather around because this plan does include bringing athletics back into the budget, along with extracurriculars in the second year,” said Patricia Kilburn, Greater Johnstown School District superintendent.

A total of 19 positions will also be eliminated next year and secondary electives will be reduced.

This is part of a three year plan that will include 14 percent tax levy increases in the following two budgets. Kilburn says this will help maintain the fund balance, which will run out in 2021 if things don’t change.

“In spite of losing staff, we hold we will be able to get children what they need to graduate, along with some of our robust programming and AP,” Kilburn said.

Board members made some tough decisions tonight, but they believe it’s a compromise after hearing from voters last week.

A budget hearing is schedule for June 11, and the revote is set for June 18.