Georgia schools that teach children from military families are bracing for a mid-year blow from the automatic budget cuts triggered in Washington.

While many of the $85 billion in automatic cuts wouldn't take effect until next school year, reductions to a program called Impact Aid are expected this spring.

The program pays up to $38 million a year to 23 Georgia school districts that lose revenue because military bases and federal low-rent housing don't pay property taxes.

Georgia administrators expect to lose 7 to 8 percent of Impact Aid money this spring.

In Liberty County, where neighboring Fort Stewart accounts for 40 percent of enrollment, assistant school superintendent Jason Rogers says schools could lose $720,000 or more. He says that money would pay for filling staff vacancies and school maintenance.

Tags: education, politics, Fort Stewart, budget cuts, Georgia military