THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 12, 1995 TAG: 9503120209
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 12 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: Vanee Vines
LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
BOARD GETS BUDGET: Superintendent Richard D. Trumble presented the board with his proposed budget for the 1995-1996 year at Thursday's public work session. The following is a brief look at some of the major changes and challenges facing the school district. The board will hold a public hearing on the budget at 7 p.m. Thursday in City Council chambers. The board is scheduled to adopt the budget that night and then send it to City Council.
Portsmouth again faces a bleak financial outlook next school year. The superintendent, who does not anticipate more money from the city, crafted an austerity plan. The recommended operating budget, which covers day-to-day expenses, is $86.2 million, which represents a less than 1 percent increase over this year's budget.
Enrollment is on the decline, but the number of students in costly special-education programs has grown.
While local money from the state sales tax and state education coffers is expected to increase slightly next school year, the percentage of federal dollars will decrease by more - perhaps by 25 percent.
In 1990-91, the School Board's operating budget was 32.4 percent of the city's general fund. This school year, the figure is about 29 percent. Trumble's spending plan calls for $25.2 million from the city - the same amount the city set aside for schools last year, despite a request for about $3 million more, and the year before that. One of the reasons behind the cuts is the fact that local money has not been enough to cover gaps elsewhere.
Trumble's proposed budget calls for a 77 percent cut in money set aside for new or replacement instructional equipment, such as overhead projectors and calculators.
Independently documented maintenance needs totaling in the hundreds of thousands of dollars will continue to go unmet. With the exception of about two projects, all money for renovation and major repair work at schools will be earmarked for S. H. Clarke. The administration still must find about $250,000 in the current budget it promised to spend on Clarke renovations this school year.
Trumble is again proposing to increase the time limit the district has to repay a loan to the Virginia Retirement System. Switching the term from 20 to 30 years would lower the annual payment to just under $1.8 million. But the move costs taxpayers more over the long run because extra interest is racked up. The total debt would grow to $29.5 million. The state said Portsmouth's original balance as of July 1, 1991, was $8.8 million.
RAISES/JOBS
A 2-percent across the board raise for all workers is on the table. In Trumble's proposed budget, the category with the largest percentage increase - nearly 3 percent - is instruction.
The superintendent's budget calls for 20 additional elementary teachers and 10 elementary paraprofessionals. Trumble proposes to wipe out 30 positions - either through attrition or reassigning jobs internally instead of hiring outside workers. The majority of those jobs reportedly are in administrative and support services areas.
Eight bus drivers would be hired as a result of the open enrollment system starting at the elementary level in the fall, and the reduction of the elementary walking distance to a half mile. Five more crossing guards also are in the budget. Money to buy up to 11 extra buses was set aside in the 1994-95 budget.
KEYWORDS: PORTSMOUTH SCHOOL BOARD BUDGET by CNB