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GREENSBORO — The Guilford County Board of Education has no authority to furlough employees paid by the state, officials say, complicating efforts to balance the school district’s budget.

Superintendent Maurice “Mo” Green included a two-day furlough in his $651.5 million budget proposal to cover a possible state-funding shortfall.

A furlough, which would affecting workers making more than $25,000 a year, would save $3.4 million , but that option might not be available.

“In terms of furloughs, local school boards could furlough people paid with local dollars,” said Vanessa Jeter , a spokeswoman with the state Department of Public Instruction. “But in terms of other employees, only the legislature or governor could furlough those people.”

This complication comes as the Guilford County Board of Commissioners suggested Thursday that the district’s budget had more room to contract. In a budget review session, commissioners told their peers that they shouldn’t expect increased funding.

Green’s budget also suggests asking the commissioners, who have final budget approval, for an additional $6.4 million .

“Everybody else is getting cut, so a hold-the-line (budget allocation) is generous on the part of the county,” commissioners Vice Chairman Steve Arnold said in the review.

Green’s budget accounts for as much as an additional $14 million shortfall in state revenues along with $9 million in cuts already expected for 2010-11.

Sheri Strickland, president of the North Carolina Association of Educators, suspects the furlough plans could be an attempt to distract teachers from more likely budget cuts.

“I do think that sometimes that is a strategy when you have to make tough economic decisions,” she said. “You start with extreme measures, and when you don’t have to go there, it seems much better than it is.”

The furlough proposal caught teachers’ attention.

“When they said they need to furlough us again, we weren’t very happy,” said Liz Foster , a teacher at The Middle College at GTCC High Point . “We’ve got people barely getting by on $25,000.”

If Green can’t furlough employees — and can’t expect more money from the commissioners — he and the school board will need to look elsewhere to balance the budget.

Commissioners at Thursday’s budget review session made it clear they want to see more cuts, not a budget increase.

Green’s budget seeks $3 million from the commissioners to make up a cut made to the school district’s maintenance funding last year and another $3.4 million to cover higher operating costs.

But several county commissioners took issue with the fact that the school district hasn’t yet used all of the $4 million it did get for maintenance.

Schools officials said they have stretched the money out over the year to avoid being empty-handed if an emergency arrives.

That discussion elevated tensions between the two sides and underscored the trust issues that persist over funding.

“I think the commissioners have said pretty clearly that if an emergency came up, we would find the money,” Arnold said.

Green replied: “We’ve heard that, but we’ve also heard there is no more money. I’m trying to react to what I’m hearing.”

Education advocacy groups already are lining up to lobby for more school funding.

The Guilford Education Alliance , a group made up of local business and community leaders who support education, will hold a news conference today and call for state and local officials to meet the school district’s funding needs.

“We feel very strongly that the community, the county commissioners and the state should be funding our schools,” said Margaret Arbuckle , executive director of the alliance. “It concerns us greatly that we’re starting the budget with almost $30 million in cuts.”

School board member Darlene Garrett balked at the idea of asking the commissioners for more money when Green originally presented his budget proposal. She noted the troubled economy.

“We’re just going to have to tighten our belts like everyone else,” Garrett said.

Contact J. Brian Ewing at 373-7351 or brian.ewing@news-record.com