School Board to discuss budget shortfall

When the Culpeper County School Board reconvenes tonight, next year’s budget will top the agenda.

The school division faces a $7.5 million deficit for fiscal year 2011, stemming from reductions in local and state funding.

George Dasher, school board chairman, said Wednesday that state cuts could be between $3.6 million and $4.4 million, depending on whether the local composite index remains frozen at the level for two years or is updated to reflect current assessments.

Under Gov. Bob McDonnell’s proposal to unfreeze the state’s LCI, Culpeper County Public Schools could possibly bring in $872,429 next year, according to the Virginia Board of Education.

The LCI formula, which is updated every two years, determines state and local education funding.

The formula uses complex indicators of a locality’s ability to pay including property value, adjusted gross income, taxable retail sales, population and enrollment.

Former Gov. Tim Kaine’s recommendation was to keep the LCI frozen.

In addition to fewer state dollars, CCPS is also looking at $2.3 million less in local funds.

During the last budget work session, Superintendent Bobbi Johnson revealed $2.85 million in possible revenue or changes to cuts to the school board.

CCPS’s current operating budget is $72.6 million for fiscal year 2010; however, school officials are looking at trimming it to $65.1 million for fiscal year 2011.

According to Jeff Shomo, finance director for CCPS, the school division spends $59 million or 80 percent of its budget on salary and benefits. CCPS has more than 1,100 employees and 7,470 students.

The school board plans to vote on next year’s budget on March 8.

The board will also consider submitting a letter of support to the Fauquier County School Board in an effort to change the 2010-12 composite index assumptions relative to the land use tax deferral program.

In a letter to Dasher dated Jan. 11, Fauquier County School Board Chairwoman Sheryl Wolfe said for several years Fauquier, Rappahannock and Loudoun counties have collectively lobbied the General Assembly to change the composite index to calculate the taxable value of real estate rather than the fair market value — to no avail.

“Perhaps if all rural counties join forces and lobby their legislators,” Wolfe writes. “We can prevail against powerful urban interests which have effectively blocked action in the past, fearing they will lose funding if rural areas benefit.”

According to Wolfe, the loss of education funding to counties, which support the land use program is in the millions of dollars.

“This contradiction of values — education versus agriculture — is both illogical and unfair. If the land use program was adopted to protect farms, forests and open space but, in the process, deprives communities of school funds — requiring higher local taxes to support schools — the purpose of the program is compromised.”

Dasher said he just wants to do what’s best for Culpeper County.

“I don’t think we want to support anything that would increase the composite index for Culpeper,” he said Sunday evening.

He added that the Culpeper County School Board will be gathering more information about the composite index before the meeting.

Tonight’s public meeting will follow the 6 p.m. closed session inside central office, 450 Radio Lane.

Want to go?
What: Culpeper County School Board budget work session
Where: Central Office, 450 Radio Lane
When: Tonight following the 6 p.m. closed session