Northumberland schools ask for $1.41 million budget increase

Posted on Friday, March 1, 2013 at 10:45 am

If Northumberland County’s School Board and Board of Supervisors adopt the 2013-2014 budget proposed Monday night by Superintendent of Schools Dr. Rebecca Gates, the county will pay $1,417,331 more for its educational system than it has in the current year.

Almost half the proposed increase is attributable to the need of a roof repairs on the elementary school. Those repairs would cost $500,000 Gates said. Other facilities maintenance would cost as additional $160,000, she said.

Gates proposed a three per cent increase with adjustments covering a two per cent social security tax increase and paying a 15 per cent increase in health insurance would cost $557,431 Gates said. The balance of the increased costs rise from items such as a $28,817 increase in Northumberland’s payment to the Northern Neck Special Education program and a $13,500 increase in the county’s contribution to the Governors School. Additionally, Gates’ proposed budget includes $46,899 for the schools’ nutritional program.

Unlike the past several years when reductions in state aid were expected, Gates anticipates that the state will send the county an additional $29,809 over last years aid. The much talked about “sequester” will not hit Northumberland regarding Federal aid because such aid is based on last year’s figures, Gate said. She expects federal aid to the county to the county’s schools to actually increase $66,890.

The bottom line is that the proposed budget calls for spending $16,871,112 on the schools in 2013-2014 compared to $15,453,781 in the current year.

 

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