Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, March 19, 1991 TAG: 9103190253
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: M.J. DOUGHERTY CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: FLOYD LENGTH: Medium
The School board approved an $8.18 million budget after a public hearing Friday. The budget is about $225,000 less than the current year's budget - but it asks for more county money.
It refects a decrease of about $222,000 in state money and about $95,000 in federal money, as well as requested $90,000 increase in local funds.
The budget does not include raises for school employees, but does increase the school system's share of medical insurance costs from 50 percent to 60 percent for employees who participate in the system's program.
Only three of the eight people at the hearing spoke and no changes were made.
"We cannot be completely satisfied with the school budget as presented," said Reba Goff, president of the Floyd County Education Association and a teacher at Check Elementary. She said school employees should get at least a step increase and that class sizes should not get bigger.
Increasing health insurance payments drew fire at Monday's supervisors' meeting.
"Somebody making as much money as a school teacher ought to be able to pay their own insurance," Supervisor Howard Dickerson said. "Most of the county employees don't make as much as them, so the insurance is a benefit to them. But someone making 25, 30, 40 or 50 thousand [dollars] a year ought to be able to afford their own insurance."
David Ingram, vice chairman of the Board of Supervisors, added it was rough for many county residents because they were making less than the school employees and were helping to pay those employees' insurance.
School Superintendent Omar Ross said the medical insurance program helps lower-income employees and those who could not get policies on their own because of poor health. About 112 of the 270 eligible employees and retirees participate in the program.
Early retirement was less controversial but raised some questions. School Board Chairman Bill Munzing told the supervisors it was being used to balance the budget without having to resort to layoffs.
Later, Dickerson questioned how much of a long-term financial obligation early retirement would mean for the county.
To discuss this - as well as the specifics of the projected early retirements - the supervisors went into executive session with Ross, Munzing and School Board Vice Chairman Doug Phillips. The vote to go into executive session was 3-2, with Dickerson and Lowell Boothe opposing the closed meeting.
No action was taken on the school budget. However, the supervisors will meet in a special meeting on March 28 at 7 p.m. to discuss budget issues.
by CNB