Gainesville City Schools may reduce furlough days after tentatively adopting a tax roll-up in August.

During the Gainesville City Schools Board of Education meeting Monday evening, board members tossed around the idea of adding up to five instructional days back into the 2012-13 school year.

The fiscal year 2013 budget was passed with 10 furlough days, but after the board voted to roll up the millage rate to 7.59 mills from 7.39 mills, more than $1 million is anticipated to go back into the general fund.

“Well, I’ve said it before, the teachers have supported the school system by having to carry the burden of these furlough days,” board member David Syfan said. “Ten days is a lot of days to lose on most teachers’ salaries. So, I felt like it was important and we would have the ability to do it, to restore at least half of those days and that is still the goal.”

But finance officials said there are a few outstanding items that could put the budget in a crunch. The system is anticipating a fall in funding from some sources that could leave it looking for another $375,000 to fund special education. Plus, it needs to hire another kindergarten teacher at Gainesville Exploration Academy to counter high enrollment.

“I think the board really needs to look at how we’re going to land at the end of this year,” Superintendent Merrianne Dyer said. “I’m just being cautious.”

She urged the board to wait until more budget information comes forth, so the board will know exactly how much money will be added to the budget.

“I would say don’t (add back) more than one day right now until you get more information,” Dyer said. “I’m thinking about the following year.”

With a better idea of what the tax digest is, Janet Allison, the system’s chief financial officer, said she projects around $22 million in tax revenue under the rolled-up tax rate.

Before the roll-up, that estimate was around $20.5 million.

“Dr. Dyer and Mrs. Allison are just doing what they always do and that is being cautious in how we budget expenditures and wanting to make sure that we don’t get us into another bad financial situation,” Syfan said.

“And I understand and agree to that philosophy, I just think with the roll-up, the money should be there to restore at least four days, and hopefully five.”

Allison said during the meeting that two days would likely not be “going too far out on a financial limb.”

She estimates the fiscal year could end with more than $3 million in the fund, but said the tax digest can fluctuate and the numbers are just projected.

The board halted discussions until the Sept. 17 meeting when it will have more information about upcoming budget amendments.

Students this year are in school 172 days instead of the traditional 180.