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Majority of speakers at King George public hearing support fully funding the school budget Date published: 4/22/2010
By CATHY DYSON School supporters packed the King George County board room Tuesday night as the majority of speakers chastised supervisors for not giving schools more money in recent years. "While our schools have been struggling, our county coffers have grown," said Kathy Heil, co-president of the King George Education Association. "You need to stop shortchanging our students. They deserve so much more, especially when the county can afford it." She was one of 26 people--of nearly 90 in attendance--who spoke at public hearings on the county's tax rate and proposed budget. Heil also was one of several speakers who referred to the county's general reserve fund, which totals more than $21 million. Last week, Supervisor Cedell Brooks Jr. told fellow members he wanted to take about $1 million out of reserves and give it to schools. Two supervisors--James Mullen and John LoBuglio--agreed, forming a majority. The three support fully funding the school proposal of $34 million. The county's total proposed budget is $61.7 million. Speakers urged the board to go through with the plan to use reserves for school funding. Others said they also would absorb a tax rate as well. "I'm willing to dig a little bit deeper and pay more taxes so we can support the kids of this county at the level they need to be supported," said resident Tom Bewick. No further digging will be necessary. Supervisors broke the public hearing into two phases: the tax rate, then the proposed budget. Five people spoke about the tax rate, and then the board voted. Supervisors approved changing the rate from 45 cents to 50 cents per $100 of real estate value. The new amount equalizes rates after the county's recent reassessment and was needed to generate the same revenue as before the reassessment, according to county staff. After the board approved the new rate, it asked for public comment on the proposed budget. Some residents said that didn't make sense. "You just painted yourself into a corner," said J.D. Martin. "If you need more money, you got no place to go except your reserves." Speakers cited a number of statistics, from the starting pay of teachers to how much the county spends on education, as well as the increasing cost of health insurance and the expense of housing jail inmates.
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