Albemarle School Board members critical of lack of data on further cuts

Despite criticisms from several board members that county staff had not spelled out an adequate number of cuts, the Albemarle County School Board has passed Superintendent Pam Moran’s 2012-13 funding request by a 6-1 vote.

Thursday night’s vote came after a long discussion during which board members expressed disappointment that county schools staff had not provided a thorough enough list of potential spending cuts and revenue sources.

Board member Jason Buyaki was the lone dissenting vote, citing disappointment with the level of cuts suggested by staff and, he said, a lack of in-depth exploration of places cuts could be made.

“I think when you go and you look at our line-item budgets, there are significant places you can make cuts,” Buyaki said. “There is a lot of concern there for the money that is being spent.”

Buyaki said he could not support the budget as it stands without further study.

“My conscience is not to support this request,” he said. “There are some outliers in the budget and a hard look may uncover some efficiencies.”

The request that was sent was for $151,619,749 in operational funds, and $18,351,478 in self-sustaining funds, for a total request of $169,971,227.

Board member Eric Strucko asked that the request sent to the supervisors be clear that it is still a work-in-progress.

As it stands, the School Board is facing a $4.9 million funding gap. Moran asked for $151.7 million in operational funds in her original funding request, but only projected $146.8 million in revenue.

The original funding request assumed a transfer of school bus replacements from the county schools’ operational budget to the county’s capital improvement program. It also assumes that the supervisors will move to a proposed equalized tax rate of 76.5 cents per $100 of assessed real estate value.

County schools staff led by Josh Davis presented a list of possible sources of revenue worth just over $1 million, and spending cuts worth about $103,000.

With the possible added revenue and cuts, the spending gap could fall to about $3.8 million, staff said.

Staff also referenced legislation trying to make its way through the General Assembly that would cut the schools’ increase in Virginia Retirement System obligations to $2.2 million. The current increase would be worth $4.3 million.

Strucko said he agreed with Buyaki that the board had not considered deep enough cuts, but time was short to provide a funding request, and he was satisfied with the board’s commitment to continuing to look for efficiencies.

“I don’t think the request is safe to send to the Board of Supervisors, but I’m satisfied that the board is committed to working on it,” he said. “I am uneasy sending a request to the supervisors when we haven’t looked at all the program efficiencies we can.”

Board member Pam Moynihan told the board she was disappointed that staff had not produced a tiered list of cuts. Moynihan elaborated that she was expecting a list that showed cuts that would be needed to shave certain amounts of money off the budget.

“I was really hoping staff was looking at that,” she said. “I’m a little concerned when I see cuts that total $103,000 of a more than $150 million budget.”

Final cuts to the budget will be made in late spring, after the Board of Supervisors adopts its final budget in early April.

The Board of Supervisors has not yet advertised a final number for consideration for next year’s tax rate.