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Spotsy supervisors, School Board meet Date published: 3/5/2008
BY DAN TELVOCK and Karen bolipata
Spotsylvania supervisors and School Board members made little progress in closing a $7.6 million funding gap during a joint work session last night. The schools' proposed fiscal year 2009 budget is 7 percent more than the current fiscal year. County Administrator Randy Wheeler's proposed budget contains no additional funding for the school system from the current budget, which is roughly $118 million. That leaves a $7.6 million gap in what the School Board wants and what the county government has proposed. During the almost-two-hour meeting, they never discussed cuts. The two boards were more cordial than in past years. Instead of pointing fingers at one another, they criticized the state for putting more pressure on local governments to fund the schools. One thing was clear in their rhetoric: This is going to be one of the most challenging budget years in more than a decade as the economy continues to slump toward a possible recession. School Board members said they will receive $4 million less from the state than they anticipated. That gap could grow depending on which budget the General Assembly approves this month. School Board Chairman Gil Seaux said the gap could be between $370,000 and $1.3 million more because of less state revenue. Supervisor Emmitt Marshall said the county budget does not include any county employee raises. The School Board is proposing 4.5 percent salary increases for teachers. "That just demonstrates how tough of times we are facing," Marshall said. Despite these funding concerns, School Board members stressed the importance of opening Cedar Forest Elementary, John J. Wright alternative school, the Joint Fleet Maintenance Facility and starting an Autism Program. Seaux discussed the option of delaying the opening of the alternative school, which would be about a $500,000 one-time savings. "How do you put a dollar sign on the fact that we are denying at-risk children the opportunity [to learn]? I don't think we can." Dan Telvock: 540/374-5438
Date published: 3/5/2008
and BOS will get more money is because THEY CAN! There are people in this County on fixed incomes that can't even afford food or medicine...but yet the County Government continues to sock it to the average fool. How much was spent on the new Fire House in the court house area? 500 dollars a window. You guys otta run for Congress or the Senate..cause you sure would fit right in! We are in a recession people. You think Bush cares if you can't pay your mortgage or medical bills. hahahahaha
How about the Country Adminitrator share alittle of his raise (23%) with the other employees and teachers. It is really hard to believe that the County is in such hard times with raises like this giving, and none to the employees and teachers.
The county employees will not be getting a raise in the upcoming budget, but yet all school employees will get a 4.5% pay increase. Maybe they should chop that down to 2% and give the other 2% to the county employees. With the prices of fuel, groceries and everything else rising, And the constant threat of layoffs, the county employees are the ones paying the ultimate price. Have you heard the schools talk about layoffs? No!
To see what these boards decide to do. The school board seems to think that tough times don't apply to them. Another example of why school boards should NOT have the final say in what money they receive from county residents. This is the checks and balance system that is needed to at least TRY and make the hard decisions.
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