Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, April 5, 1990                   TAG: 9004060675
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W11   EDITION: WEST 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium

CRAIG SCHOOL BOARD OKS SALARY INCREASES

The increase is required by the State Board of Education, said School Superintendent Dallas Helems.

The 1990-91 budget totals $2,890,991 and is 8.6 percent higher than the current budget. In dollars, that increase amounts to $149,828.

The school budget is a major expense item in an overall county budget now being prepared by the Craig County Board of Supervisors.

Other salary increases include 3.7 percent for administrators, 5.7 percent for secretaries and 3 percent for all other personnel.

Revenue for the budget is expected to come from three sources - the state government, the federal government and county taxes.

The state government will provide the largest share - $1.8 million. Local funds are to provide $880,611 and the federal government will give $165,600.

All of these amounts are higher than in the current budget.

Local revenue would be $90,581 higher, state funds $49,247 higher and the federal share $10,000 higher.

School Superintendent Dallas Helems said the state's increase was just about enough to cover the teachers' salary increase.

But the state did not provide any funds for other programs it requires of all school systems, he said.

Nearly all expenditures in the new budget are higher than in the current one.

The largest share of expenses goes for instructional costs - $2 million, which is 71.8 percent of the total budget.

Other expenses are: administration, $168,453; transportation, $166,343; operation and maintenance, $230,428; food service, $50,000; and debt repayment, $201,062.

The budget also includes $15,000 in additional revenue for upgrading instructional equipment and library resources.

Also an additional $20,000 is included for tuition that Craig must pay other school systems for Craig children who attend classes outside the county, such as in special educational and the Governor's School.

The school board adopted the budget after a public hearing that brought virtually no comments.

There is a chance, however, that this budget may not be final. When it is integrated into an overall county budget, the school board could be required to make cuts if the supervisors have trouble matching revenues with expenses.