School budget deficit down to $155,000 in Charles City

With projected revenue of $10,723,619 for the 2013-14 year and a potential shortfall of $485,041, Charles City School Board members began making preliminary cuts on their projected budget. And even with the proposed cuts from a budget work session on Monday, more than $155,000 still remains to be addressed.

Board members are tasked with finding ways to reduce the budget. With that at hand, members listened to public input on issues and concerns on addressing the budget. Reductions are also contingent on a request by school board members for an additional $157,716 to cover a textbook fund and aid with Gov. Bob McDonnell’s two percent pay raise for school employees.

Among major reductions are reduction of one slot each at the Maggie Walker Governor’s School and Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for incoming freshmen, termination of one teacher and instructional aide at the elementary school due to dwindling enrollment, and reduction of the number of special education slots for students to attend the Richmond Technical Center.

Other cuts include reduction of months for the school psychologist, combining the attendance clerk positions, trimming of transportation and operations, elimination of a replacement automobile, and county technology charges along with reduced network management services and reduced executive administration membership fees and travel. In all, the cuts amount to $329,325.

Escaping the budget ax are one nurse each in the middle/high and elementary schools as well as Charles City’s JROTC program, which has avoided the chopping block for the past few years.

Still with all the cuts, board members face a $155,716 deficit, according to figures received by the Chronicle. Members met with Charles City’s Board of Supervisors yesterday [Wednesday] with proposals for additional funding.

School officials expect to receive $4,384,731 in state revenue for the upcoming year. County revenue is based on equal funding they received for the current school year ($4,781,216) while federal funding is projected at $1,300,940. Other local revenue is $226,732, bringing the total revenue projected for the 2013-14 fiscal year to $10,723,619.

School board members have said they are optimistic about receiving support following the supervisors’ work session on March 6 (see related story in this issue.) A concrete figure, as well as cuts, will not be finalized until supervisors designate an amount to the schools, as school board members are asking for additional funding to help with the financial deficit.

More discussion on budget issues is expected to be held at the school board’s regular meeting on March 19.