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Powhatan school board formally requests return of surplus funds
18 CommentsPublished: March 12, 2010 By Michael Copley The back-and-forth budget process in Powhatan might be moving towards firmer ground, with the school board filing a formal request with the board of supervisors- a “good faith effort,” according to school board member Debbie M. Jones- to return more than $500,000 in surplus funds from last year. During a budget meeting March 4 where the board of supervisors (BOS) voted to hold school funding at just over $19 million, supervisors expressed concern that the needs assessment the school board approved and presented to the BOS was based, in part, on a $1 million increase in county funds that most supervisors said hadn’t been agreed to. $517,000 of the now-contested million dollars is surplus money the schools returned to the county’s general fund at the end of last fiscal year. Some school board members were upset initially at having to formally request the return of funds because they said BOS Chairman Robert R. Cosby “promised,” without objection from other supervisors, that the surplus money would be returned. District 5 Supervisor Carson Tucker said a verbal agreement is a first step, but that formal documentation- of the request and the transaction- is essential for audit and reference purposes. After meeting with District 1 Supervisor Joe Walton and Carson Tucker March 9, school board members Valarie C. Ayers and Debbie Jones asked their fellow board members to approve a letter of request aimed at calming supervisors’ concerns about how that money would be used- particularly, that one time funding not be used for recurring expenses. At a school board meeting last week, school board member Jason Moore said the board of supervisors is “trying to control [the school board] through funding.” Moore and School Board Chairman Tim Gresham suggested delaying a vote on the formal request until more information from the state is available, but Jones said waiting could mean “taking a chance we might not get it.” “I want to get that money now,” said school board member Rick Gideons. He said that no matter what happens at the state level, the $517,000 would be money in the bank. An initial version of the request was revised March 9 and the school board voted to send it to the board of supervisors. The request indicates the money “will be used to help avoid layoffs of valuable and talented employees.” During exchanges that have become increasingly tense, Walton has asserted that one-time funding sources should not be spent on recurring needs. “As I told Mr. Walton, I think a five year old knows what one time means,” said Gresham. School board members said using the money to save jobs during this year’s budget process is not an inappropriate use of one-time funds, because the schools “are expecting more flexibility in positions and saving through salaries the following year due to attrition.” “The basis for the estimated reduction in possible recurring costs is based on roughly 18 individuals applying for early retirement with retirement of these individuals to start after the 2010-2011 budget had terminated,” the letter reads. As of March 12, Tucker had not seen the formal request, but he said he thinks supervisors will be “amenable” to it as long as the request is understood to be a one-time appropriation, and not something that is added again next year to the schools budget requests. |
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mp3 dinle Aug. 4, 2010, 10:51 AM
Dr. Miguelito Loveless of The Wild Wild West Mar. 15, 2010, 11:23 PM
Tickle Me Elmo! Another good one! Well done!
hello of Powhatan Mar. 15, 2010, 10:16 PM
I hope the good Dr. M does not suffer from Tickle Me Elmo
Dr. Miguelito Loveless of The Wild Wild West Mar. 15, 2010, 10:05 PM
Heh heh heh. The rude criticism of EV’s syntax reminds me of the time someone berated me and made comments that appeared to suggest that he thinks I really am a doctor (asked what I am doing to control costs in the medical profession, IIRC) and that my name really is Miguelito Loveless. Satire is a wonderful thing. It tickles me (but not in the same way Congressman Massa tickles people).
Liberty of Powhatan, Va Mar. 15, 2010, 07:53 PM
EV Congratulations on creating a complete sentence! Now you just need to make a point.
Amused Mar. 15, 2010, 07:40 PM
EV, You are a satirical genius! Me, too! ;) How many school board meetings and workshops have you attended since the beginning of this calendar year? Methinks that the answer to that is obvious. Secondly, have you asked for copies of any documents to review for yourself? Methinks that the answer to that is even more obvious.
Liberty of Powhatan, va Mar. 15, 2010, 07:11 PM
EV In the future please attempt to use complete sentences.
EV of Powhatan Mar. 14, 2010, 06:26 PM
AW sez: “If PCPS wants to be the best at something, how about #1 in transparent government? Then the BOS could see how the funds are going to be spent, and so could I.” EV sez: Bub Moore what say you to AW since you always have so much to teach us about other thangs? Where is the transparency of the sb meetings? “minutes” were just started up and they are non-verbatim, “massaged by the supe and politburo” minutes and the dear leader board actions flyers are still there. When will the pictures of dear leader be mounted around our admin offices? Bub’s comrade deludes about televiseation of bos meetings but bub can’t even peep about a $2 recorder for recorded minutes to be posted or available. The bos uses the same building - can’t someone in the school system press record? So why is bub moderating his pursuit of justice on getting some lousy minutes? Where is non-vice extremist defense of the basic principle of recorded minutes? Is he afraid of the supe or fellow sb comrades? Bub, Is your silence on these and every other matter goldwateresque? Bub’s had 9 years to show some crumb of backbone about some issue of even the most minor nature. Bub waxes statesman philosophic in print but can’t point to anything but chump sophomoric for 9 years in reality on the sb….and that’s not just because there are no minutes available! Goldwater’s ghost and the little people want to know, what have you done but defend your lack record bub? come to think of it bub, what single thing can you point to that you have done except a total lack of anything to point to for 9 years? perfect goose egg is good in…um, what sport is zero points good? certainly not politics or statemanship. Where is the published diatribe on lack of sb meeting minutes in the local paper? Ahh, it was written in Newspeak by our “more equal than others” Bub Moore and still withheld by the supe and politburo because the little people wouldn’t have understood! Off to the glue factory with us all! Barry G., help to see the light your incarnate in Powhatan county!
Joy of POwhatan Mar. 13, 2010, 02:14 PM
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In simple terms, is this money that was budgeted to the school system, and left over? I dont’ quite understand how this works. If the schools were budgeted 45 million, they don’t get control of that money? Is it taken out bit by bit, just want to understand. If they were $500 thousand under budget from last year, seems they asked for too much and simply need to rethink what they ask for and the formulas that they use. Submit Your Comments Below
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