School board seeks extra funding
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 7, 2013 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Board of Education voted Monday night to ask the Wayne County Board of Commissioners for additional funding for next year's budget, to be divided among small projects, security and technology expenses and "critical needs" in the district.
Two meetings held in anticipation of the May 15 deadline to get the budget request to commissioners -- a two-hour work session last week and a facilities committee meeting on Friday -- produced the $6.4 million capital outlay budget the superintendent said he will deliver to the county today.
It's a "wish list," Dr. Steven Taylor, superintendent, said on Friday.
"We're not asking for the world, paring it down like that," he said.
There has essentially been no funding increase earmarked for education in several years, said Nan Barwick, assistant superintendent for fiscal services, and this year's county appropriation amount remained consistent with the previous year, at $18.2 million.
But the capital outlay portion, which includes the half-cent sales tax, is where the board's request will be targeted.
"That funds our capital needs," Ms. Barwick said. "In the past, we have requested a draw-down of $2 million. That's always been our agreement.
"Now, instead of $2 million we're going to request $3 million. That's going to take care of (maintenance) projects."
In addition, she explained, a "special county appropriation" of $3.4 million would be used to address some of the school system's critical needs, for a total of $6.4 million.
The itemized list, which addresses some of the more pressing projects looming around the county, includes a cafeteria renovation at Charles B. Aycock High School, roofs at seven school and window replacements at three others.