ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 20, 1996 TAG: 9603200054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JOEL TURNER STAFF WRITER
Despite requests for $7.8 million more in funding over last year from Roanoke County school officials, residents shouldn't have to worry about their taxes going up.
School officials have told the School Board that the money is needed to pay for teacher pay raises, computer labs, roof repairs, special-education teachers, textbooks and dozens of other items in Roanoke County.
If the School Board approves all of the budget requests for next year, it will have to ask the Board of Supervisors for nearly a 20 percent increase in local funding.
But the Supervisors have already said they are not going to raise the tax rate. Any increased funding for the county schools would have to come from reassessments of property development or other sources.
The supervisors increased the school budget by $5 million for the 1995-'96 school year, but they probably will be asked for an even bigger increase for next year.
Based on projected state funding, the School Board needs $7.8 million more in local money to balance its budget for next year.
Three categories account for nearly $5.5 million of the increase: 5 percent raises for teachers and other employees; instructional equipment such as computer labs, printers and musical instruments; and additional personnel, including special-education teachers.
But the county has not provided an estimate of the increase in local money that it can provide next year, according to Jerry Hardy, director of budget and data management for the schools.
The School Board will inform the supervisors of its budget needs and make adjustments based on the funds that it receives, said board Chairman Jerry Canada.
"We will send over our needs and do some lobbying. We'll see what they will plug in," Canada said. The board has not taken final action on the budget, but he said it should be an advocate for schools.
As an elected board, Canada and other members said, they are responsible for outlining the county's educational needs to the supervisors, who make the funding decision. The School Board has no taxing power.
Diane Hyatt, county finance director, would not comment Tuesday on the School Board's likely budget request or say whether the county can provide all of the money.
"Until we meet with school officials, I really can't say how much might be available," Hyatt said.
Equipment requests in next year's budget probably can be reduced by about $1 million if voters approve a $37.4 million school bond issue that includes money for computers and other technology, Hardy said. The referendum is April 2.
If all of the requests are approved, the school budget would be $85 million, up $9 million over this year's.
The School Board will receive a $2 million increase in state funds next year. But it will use $755,000 of that amount to make up a one-time appropriation from the county and surplus funds that were used to balance this year's budget.
Supervisors provided almost $40 million in local funds for the schools' operating budget this year.
Roanoke County teachers need an average pay raise of at least 5 percent to keep pace with Roanoke teachers, who will likely receive minimum raises of 6 percent next year.
Nearly 20 percent of Roanoke's teachers also will receive step raises next year, providing an over-all raise of 7 percent for the teaching staff.
Hardy said it would cost $2.9 million to provide raises of 5 percent across the board for county teachers and other school personnel. Each 1 percent raise costs about $582,000.
Both the county and city school boards have set a goal of raising their teacher salaries to the national average in the next few years.
Hardy said school utility bills will increase by more than $200,000 in the next year. School officials also have requested $300,000 for roof repairs.
Hardy said the budget requests include smaller items, too. They include $22,800 for connecting school libraries to the Internet and $20,000 for training in the event any high schools switch to block scheduling next year. In a block schedule, students have longer class periods - up to 90 minutes - and take fewer courses each semester.
LENGTH: Medium: 81 linesby CNB