Stafford Education Association President Jannette Martin said last night she’s glad the county’s school system did not begin its budget process with “cries of layoffs and unrealistic cuts.”
But she asked the School Board not to eliminate 2.5 percent average step increases scheduled for April 1. School Superintendent David Sawyer has recommended that the division delay those raises—approved late last year—until it has more information on the 2010–11 spending plan.
“We urge you to not take a step backward and remove it,” Martin said. “We urge you to be a role model for surrounding localities and keep that promise.” Those step increases would cost $3.8 million in next year’s budget.
Martin was one of five speakers during a public hearing last night on Saw-yer’s proposed 2010–11 budget, which he first presented last week. Sawyer’s recommended $237.6 million operating budget is $7.6 million more than this year’s spending plan.
The School Board last night approved a resolution asking the county Board of Supervisors to provide the same amount of money in 2010–11 as it did this year, as well as $3.6 million the school division expects to save by refinancing bonds.
The resolution also requests that county supervisors give back the system’s unspent money from the current fiscal year.
Sawyer has said the division is facing a potential $25.6 million deficit in 2010–11 because of state revenue reductions and increases in health insurance, retirement benefits and employee pay, among other factors.
His proposals to close the shortfall include saving about $11 million of this year’s federal stimulus money and eliminating 31.5 positions through attrition.
Dean Fetterolf, who spoke during the budget public hearing, said Sawyer’s recommended budget “presents the most optimistic scenario we can envision.”
Stafford teacher Theresa Thompson, who has been with the division for more than 20 years, said her salary was based on years of experience until last year’s pay freeze. She asked the division to provide a step increase next year—in addition to the one scheduled for April 1—so teacher pay reflects experience.
“I understand that we are in hard economic times, and I am not requesting a cost-of- living increase,” she said. “I am only asking that we are paid for the experience that we have earned.”
County Administrator Anthony Romanello will present his proposed 2010–11 budget next Tuesday. The School Board is scheduled to have its first budget work session on March 9 and approve its spending plan March 23.
“You have another tough job ahead,” said Martin, who was speaking on behalf of the education association. “Let this be the year the budget is not balanced on our backs.”