Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 7, 1995 TAG: 9501090026
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: MELISSA DeVAUGHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Montgomery County and school officials agreed Friday to use the same estimates for state funding in preparing next year's school operating budget.
Superintendent Herman Bartlett told School Board members this week that the Board of Supervisors estimated an $847,000 increase from the state for next year's budget, but school officials say that number actually is $650,000.
The reason for the discrepancy, said Bartlett, is because the county was using a different set of figures when estimating the average number of students. Bartlett said the county had been using "budgeted membership," or the number of students who show up to school on the first day. That figure came to 8,934, said Carol Edmonds, county finance director.
The state and schools were using "average daily membership," the average number of students who show up on any given day. That figure came to 8,809.
"Anyone that's worked with school-funding formulas understands that budget figures are driven by" average daily membership, Bartlett said Thursday. "As you increase that number, it takes less [county] dollars to make the budget." Using the higher estimate, he said, meant the county would have to provide less money in funding.
Adding to the numbers discrepancy is the proposed funding for an at-risk program for 4-year-olds. The county assumed that the schools would take sole responsibility - and funding - for the program, when in fact, the program will be a shared venture among several New River Valley counties and public service agencies.
"We're all clear now that [Montgomery County schools] are not directly administrating that program," Edmonds said. "So that reduces the amount of money for that program.
"Basically, it's just a difference in comparisons," Edmonds added, "and we are all in agreement with the same number now."
The Board of Supervisors said last week that it will increase the schools' funding by $506,700. That estimate, combined with the $650,000 the state plans to contribute, still will leave the school system $2.8 million short of its $49.3 million budget goal.
Bartlett, who calls his budget proposal a "fiscally conservative plan," said he doesn't know how the schools could survive on such limited funding.
"Just because the state cut out $2 million from our budget, does that mean we have to cut two-thirds of our programs?" Bartlett asked the board. "I don't think that's what we want, and I don't think that's what the community wants."
by CNB