Board approves $25.9 million budget plan
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on May 6, 2015 1:46 PM
The Wayne County Board of Education voted Tuesday to send the county a $25.9 million budget request, which includes $2.5 million in capital outlay money to fund maintenance projects at all 31 schools and administrative offices.
The district's finance officer, Beverly Boltinhouse, had already told the board previously that $2 million was earmarked for district maintenance director, David Lassiter, to use toward much-needed repair projects across the county.
At a called work session that lasted the bulk of the day Tuesday, the board tackled the proposed budget in a revamped format -- complying with requests from the county manager and the governor.
Interim Superintendent Dr. Sandra McCullen said the county requires budget requests to be submitted by May 15, with this year's in a new form that all stakeholders were asked to do by County Manager George Wood.
School systems were also instructed to use the Governor's Recommended Allotment for State Allotment Planning.
"Normally they gave us a plan allotment. This year we have the governor's recommendation," Mrs. Boltinhouse explained.
The planning allotments include adjustments approved last year, with anticipated reductions in several areas -- $1.1 million in instructional assistant funding, $1.1 in low wealth funding and $229,159 in instructional supplies.
At the start of the meeting, the county allotment local funds for the 2015-16 school year were $2 million in capital outlay, $18.4 million in current expenses, $867,000 in special allocations (Wee Wings, Edgewood School and WISH Centers) and $130,00 from the special supplemental allocation, for a total of $21.3 million, a $200,000 increase from the previous year.
By the time the session drew to a close, though, board members bumped up the amount of the capital outlay request, based on the growing list of "standard repairs" needed at all the schools.
Board member Arnold Flowers said the $2 million in facilities money is part of what the county pays for the district to operate.
"That's actually our money," he said. "Asking them to give us $2 million of our money, there's more than $2 million in that fund.
"We can certainly go to them at any time during the year in my opinion and ask them for help on a specific need."
He said he felt like sometimes the district doesn't do a "good selling job" its needs.
"This is sales tax money that the county is holding in their coffers and we only ask them for about $2 million that they're holding of our money," he said.
Perhaps the biggest anticipated project is a new roof at Carver Elementary, which comes with a $1 million price tag, but would remedy the more than 70 calls Lassiter said he had received about the leaky roof in recent years.
He also proposes to install air conditioning at three schools -- Brogden Middle, Fremont STARS Elementary and Rosewood Middle -- at an estimated cost of $375,000.
Plus a smattering of projects that ranged from re-keying a school and replacing doors to replacing heat pumps and in stalling a new ceiling.
"(Lassiter) is asking for additional money so he'll have more to do with the smaller projects," Mrs. McCullen said.
The funds would also offset issues before they become an emergency situation, said Allison Pridgen, executive director for administrative services.
"Why do we always have to wait for an emergency?" asked board member Pat Burden. "If we see that you have a need coming on, why can't we get the money, if it's our money and we're legitimately using it?"
If there is a "credible need," then a "credible argument" should be made for the county to release the funds, especially in an emergency situation, Flowers said.
"I think they would help us out if they could," Mrs. McCullen said. "But I do think you want to ask for more of your capital money."
Mrs. Boltinhouse said that the half-cent sales tax balance, an estimated $4 million, is what the district anticipates receiving every year. A portion of that goes toward the district's loan balance, she said, and this year it was felt that $2 million should be designated for maintenance projects.
As the board sifted through the "wish list" submitted by each school, along with the central office, child nutrition, operations and transportation departments, it was determined that there were numerous needs that well exceeded the proposed $2 million request.
Board member Jennifer Strickland mentioned tacking on $500,000, bringing the request to $2.5 million.
Lassiter told the board there were additional projects beyond those on the original list, including a new roof on the 500 wing at Charles B. Aycock High.
Board member Dr. Dwight Cannon asked if the $2.5 million would allow him to accomplish that.
"No," Lassiter said.
Mrs. Strickland made a motion to submit a $2.5 million request to the county, which passed unanimously.