KARNS CITY — The Karns City School Board has authorized administrators to notify some employees that they could be laid off at the end of the 2010-11 school year because of declining enrollment.

“That's a formality at this point,” Shelia Hillwig, board president, said Tuesday. “At this point the board has not been given any plan on cost reduction measures.”

No furlough letters have been delivered.

Administrators must have the board's authorization if the district furloughs employees, Hillwig said.

“That (furlough) is an absolute last resort measure,” Hillwig said. “When we hire somebody we make a huge impact in their lives. Having a job makes a huge difference. We recognize that.”

District administrators have scheduled a public budget workshop for 6 p.m. Wednesday in the administration building.

Under Gov. Tom Corbett's preliminary 2011-12 education budget, the district may lose $1.4 million in state subsidies, Larry Henry, superintendent, said.

School district's budgets for the next school year are to be approved by June 30.

Last year, the school board gave administrators the same authorization for this school year. The district thought it might need to furlough an elementary school teacher, but it did not.