CC school budget nears $11 million

Charles City School Board members have approved a budget totaling almost $11 million for the 2013-14 school year.

Board members voted to adopt the budget during their work session on March 11. State revenue is $4,384,731 and federal revenue is $1,300,940. County revenue is listed as level-funded in the amount of $4,781,216, but that number could change once the county’s Board of Supervisors finalizes the overall county budget. Other local revenue is $226,732 to bring the total anticipated school revenue amount up to $10,723,619.

Originally, budget expenses totaled $11,208,660, but board members made more than $300,000 in cuts to decrease the gap between anticipated expenses and revenue. As of now, the deficit is $157,716. School board members are expected to ask supervisors for additional funding to cover that amount. Funding for the deficit is expected to be applied to Gov. Bob McDonnell’s two-percent pay raises for school employees and also the schools’ textbook fund.

By law, public school systems in Virginia must have a next year budget in place by April 1. The school budget, however, is subject to revision once a final figure on local money, as determined by supervisors, becomes available.