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King George schools raise pay and benefits
King George passes schools budgetDate published: 5/15/2008 BY COREY BYERS School officials passed a $35.2 million operating budget in King George County last night, bringing their 2008-09 budget planning to an end. Spending includes 4 percent across-the-board raises and greater contributions to family health-care costs for employees. The schools will get $12.4 million from the county this year--$1.5 million more than this year. The School Board had requested $16 million at the start of the budgeting process. School Board member Lynn Pardee expressed her displeasure with the county allocation before voting for the spending plan. The county passed a 1-cent increase on the real-estate tax rate for next year. Pardee said a 4- or 5-cent increase to benefit schools would have been better. Board member Payne Kilbourn echoed Pardee's thoughts, saying the School Board could ask the Board of Supervisors for additional funding if needed. The School Board has struggled with a shortfall in this year's operating budget but has returned funds to the county at the end of each year since 1999. The board has taken measures, including laying off a handful of employees, to cut spending and balance the budget. During a break in the meeting, Superintendent Candace Brown said she projects the operating and cafeteria budgets will break even by the end of the fiscal year. The School Board should get an update on this year's spending at their May 28 meeting. In other business the board discussed: Possibly increasing lunch prices by 10 cents next year to cover anticipated increases in food costs. They previously increased prices in February to battle a shortfall in the cafeteria fund. Members agreed it was premature to raise prices since they won't know food costs until later this summer. Taking in tuition-paying students at the high school during the next school year. Board members had legal concerns about asking out-of-county applicants to note whether or not they require special education programs, and how to recover costs for those who might make it into the Governor's School program. They will take up the issue at a later date. Requested supervisors remove plans to upgrade Hunter Field from the county's capital improvements plan. Instead, they want to move ahead with plans for a football stadium at the new high school. Corey Byers: 540/735-1976
Date published: 5/15/2008
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