The Martinsville City School Board approved its fiscal year 2023-24 budget at a Feb. 13 meeting.
Schools Superintendent Dr. Zebedee Talley, Jr. said the $25,758,772 budget represents an increase of $1,173,191 from the previous year.
The spending plan that includes an increase of $347,240 in the local funding request now will be presented to the Martinsville City Council.
Travis Clement, Executive Director of Administrative Services, said the overall budget increase of $1,173,191 was driven by four major changes.
“One of those is a reduction in state grants. That’s because we’re losing a couple of slots in the Virginia Preschool Initiative (VPI) programs. We’re losing funding for those two positions,” he said.
Although a reduction of about $171,270 is expected in the state’s sales tax revenues, the division anticipates an increase of $1,010,223 in state funds, which will include “things such as the additional reading specialist, the state’s portion of the five percent raise, and the replacement of the hygiene and food tax component that was reduced. So, that’s going to replace the loss of the sales tax that comes to the school division,” he said.
Clement said the division was short $347,240 when it tried to balance the budget.
That amount is “going to be a request to the city council to increase their appropriation, the local component, to us by that much,” he said.
Talley said the local revenue factors include division enrollment. The projected enrollment for next year includes 1,690 K-12 students, 110 preschoolers, and 80 for adult education.
“A total enrollment of 1,880. We’re looking for a state entitlement of around $295,000, and a supplement of about $543,000,” he said and estimated the division will lose about $13,002.
Talley said primary costs include $878,476 for the five percent raises. The health insurance increase costs are currently unknown.
“Budgeted requests around $433,000, and then some technical adjustments. We’re looking at around $1,173,191,” he said. Seventy percent of the total estimated expenditures will go towards instruction, “with an increase of expenses of $781,000” for about $18.1 million.
Clement said instruction technology had an increase of $193,000 for a total of $1,313,127.
“Administration is a $101,000 increase, and attendance and health is $54,000, for a total of $155,658” in increases, he said.
The proposal includes $1,241,909 and $3,176,160 for maintenance and operations in the transportation category.
In other matters, the board:
*Approved the personnel report as amended.
*Heard from Ebony Allen about e@dreamz.
*Recognized school board clerk appreciation week.
*Recognized February as school board appreciation month.
*Heard from Martinsville Middle School Principal Ama Waller about Fayette Area Historical Initiative (FAHI).
*Heard an update on the 2024 prom. It will be held on April 22 from 8 p.m. to 12 a.m. at the Martinsville High School Commons with the theme of “Masquerade Ball.” The After Prom event will be held at the Martinsville Speedway.
*Approved the Jan. 12 and Jan. 30 meeting minutes.
*Approved the finance report for the period ending Jan. 31.
*Heard the supervisor’s report.
*Nominated Tau Omicron Chapter Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc and Piedmont Arts to be recognized for their support to the school division as part of a Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) program.
*Approved the fiscal year 2023-2024 academic calendar.
*Approved the policies as presented for the first reading.
Tony Jones attended the meeting via phone.
Jim Woods did not attend the meeting.
