SALES TAX DROP TO AFFECT SCHOOL FUNDING

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

DATE: THURSDAY, January 9, 1992                   TAG: 9201100413
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium
SALES TAX DROP TO AFFECT SCHOOL FUNDING
An anticipated decrease in sales tax revenue throughout Virginia in 1992 may put a squeeze on school finances in Craig County.
The Craig County School Board was told this week that because of the expected drop in sales tax revenue the county may have its funds from that source cut.
School Superintendent Dallas Helems told board members that state finance officials expect sales tax revenue to drop about 5.7 percent, which would amount to about $500,000.
Helems said he doesn't know how much Craig might lose, but any revenue loss could hurt Craig's relatively small and tight budget.
The school board has set three dates for the budget-making process for the 1992-93 fiscal year.
The first budget session is Feb. 4 during the board's regular monthly meeting, and the second is Feb. 18. Teachers, principals and others with requests for funds will be heard during these sessions.
The board also set Feb. 25 as a tentative date to continue receiving budget requests. All the meetings will start at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of Craig County High School.
The school board needs to have its budget finished in March so it can be presented to the Board of Supervisors.
In other action:

Board members also set a meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the high school auditorium to discuss the special education program.

The board asked Helems to get comments from teachers in the high school and elementary school about a proposal to lower the minimum passing grade from 75 to 70.
Board Chairman Robert Shaver suggested the teacher feedback. He said board members should know what the teachers think about the idea. Helems said that survey he's obtained shows that 63 school divisions in Virginia have 70 as the minimum passing grade, 53 have 75, three have 60 and several others have other grade levels.

by Archana Subramaniam by CNB