Wednesday, June 19, 2002
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Wednesday, June 19, 2002 |
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School budget: $141 million 4% increase, but no new trailers this year By MICHAEL BOYLAN
It's going to cost nearly $141 million to run the Fayette County school system next fiscal year, but none of that will go for new trailers. In fact, the school system is getting rid of three of the 124 portable classrooms now in use. The Fayette County Board of Education Monday gave its final OK to the budget of $140,966,138 for the fiscal year 2003, an increase of 4 percent over last year. "We cut 5 percent off of what people realistically needed," said School Board Chairman Mickey Littlefield. "It just goes to show you that when something needs to get done it can be accomplished and people can still be friends." Superintendent John DeCotis told the board that the budget keeps the student-teacher ratio low and that no programs of student interest had to be cut. However, DeCotis said, some staff requests could not be addressed this year. Teachers still get a 3.25 percent raise in the new budget, while classified staff people will receive raises of 2.25 percent, DeCotis said. The system is adding about 60 new positions in 2003, including a "crisis counselor" and a psychologist. DeCotis also said the system plans to put off buying any new schoolbuses this year, instead of the average of 20 or so the system has been buying in recent years. Also unusual in this year's budget is that the school system will receive only a $427,529 increase in total state funding, DeCotis reported. Interestingly, the school system did not have to purchase any new trailers. In fact, the school system had 124 trailers being used by schools. They have returned three to the vendor and the remaining 121 trailers are being reshuffled around the county. The budget "assumes local [tax] digest growth of 8 percent and anticipates holding the millage rate at the present 18.053 mills," DeCotis's report stated. "The projected growth in local tax receipts will produce approximately $4.67 million in new revenue." Two new schools will open in this year, with a total system projected enrollment of 20,668.
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