[MeriwetherMatters] Final Budget Update 6/6/07

[MLS Matters]

MLS Parents - 
                       
Thank you for your effective efforts to encourage our County Board of Supervisors (BOS) to support
education funding during their budget negotiations in March and April.  This is a review provided
for your information of the final budget adopted by the BOS and the School Board.
                       
When budget development was initiated in Fall 2006, the BOS did not announce intentions to reduce
the real estate tax rate.  The School Board was directed to develop its budget based on the
current real estate tax rate of 74 cents per $100 assessed value.  Therefore, the School Board
developed a $166,714,753 budget balanced to projected revenues.  The BOS decided on March 12, 2007
to reduce the real estate tax rate.  Since the County Schools receive 68% of funding from local
sources, primarily the real estate tax, the School Board had to reduce it's budget.  The School
Board ultimately adopted a $147.95 million operating budget on April 19, 2007.
                       
Unfortunately, MLS lost several initiatives in the final budget due to the reductions:
1.  elimination of proposed funding to explore the International Baccalaureate Program (IBO),
2.  elimination of proposed funding to increase our literacy specialist up to a .5 FTE (which all
other elementary school have, except MLS and Murray),
3.  elimination of MLS' assistant principal position.
4.  elimination of CTIP (technology support for teachers) increases.
                       
The entire county budget is available on the County's website, www.albemarle.org, and the schools
budget is available on the county school website, www.k12albemarle.org.
                       
Your commitment and action during the budget process was a great help in getting the message
across to our BOS that education funding is critical.  
                       
Thank you for your efforts on behalf of our MLS students !
                       
"Mary Huffard" Kegley Scott
MLS PTO Volunteer Coordinator and
President, Albemarle County Schools Parent Council
maryhuffard at yahoo.com
                       


 
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