DATE: Friday, September 26, 1997            TAG: 9709250307

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: 3B   EDITION: FINAL 

COLUMN: Update 

SOURCE: BY ALETA PAYNE, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH                    LENGTH:   43 lines

BEACH OFFICIALS SEEK PUBLIC'S INPUT ON BUDGET

It only seems like budget season just ended.

In fact, this year's budget was settled in May, so it must be time to start on the 1998-99 spending plan. And for that, Beach school leaders want your opinion.

District officials have decided to survey the community early in the process this year to find out what residents feel are priorities in educating the city's children.

But they're keeping the question open-ended. Rather than having residents vote from a pre-determined list, the division is circulating forms that let respondents choose whatever they want as additions, or deletions, from the district's offerings.

``The budget touches so many people. It seems if you have a budget that impacts so many people, then they ought to have input into it,'' said Kathy Bulman, assistant superintendent for media and communications development. ``Also, in the budget process, I think we get tied into special interests. It's a better gauge for us to know if something's on the mind of a broader group of people than special interests.''

The district will also be doing phone surveys of three randomly selected groups representing employees, P.T.A. presidents and business partners. And a recent question for the division's call-in show focused on budget priorities.

``If you don't do it, you're only going to get the people who care enough to come to a school board meeting and lobby,'' Bulman said.

A brochure on the budget, where the money comes from and where it goes, will be made available through the Department of Budget and Finance at 427-4993.

School officials are asking for a general overview of a suggested program or initiative with enough specifics to allow a cost estimate to be developed. While there is an official suggestion form, respondents don't have to use that. Just return the information to Donald A. Peccia, Associate Superintendent Department of Budget and Finance, P.O. Box 6038, Virginia Beach, Va., 23456-0038. Peccia will also be available to speak to community groups on the budget by calling the department number.

The deadline for responses is Nov. 1.

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