Charles City School Board approves $10.5 million budget for FY2016-17

Charles City School Board members approved a $10.5 million budget for FY2016-17 during a Mar. 21 special called meeting.

Board members heard a recap of the $10,513,524 proposal for the upcoming year from superintendent of schools David Gaston and school finance director Susan Salg. Of the proposal, $5,212,941 is requested as a contribution from local and state funds. That requested figure is $406,373 more than the current year’s contribution. The superintendent commented at the board’s regular meeting last December that a reduction in state funding due to the local composite index (LCI) factored into asking for a larger contribution from the locality to help compensate the loss.

School board representatives also approved the capital improvement plan (CIP) for FY2016-17. Funding for projects for the next fiscal year tallied at $1,054,718, which is a reduction of $61,000 from the original price tag. Projects scheduled for next year include the purchasing of one school bus and a seven-passenger van, replacing HVAC units, and renovations of the commons area at both the elementary and high schools.

Both budget recommendations are now forwarded to county supervisors for their consideration.