The Augusta County Board of Supervisors were confronted Wednesday night with a strong lobby from supporters of the Augusta County Schools, worried about potential budget cuts, including the possible elimination of the Shenandoah Valley Governor's School.
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Supervisors cautioned the speakers and audience to be patient. They said it was early in the 2012-13 budget process, and asked the audience to contact state legislators and asked for help with the budget needs. A $3.4 million gap in the Augusta County schools 2012-13 budget includes potential cuts in Governor's School funding that could eliminate the program in specialized math, science, technology and arts and humanities instruction. The Governor's School is in Tier 3 of the potential cuts in next year's budget by the school district.
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The budget problems are complicated, Pyles said. He said the county has lost enrollment in
recent years, and said the state has decided to ask localities to pay increased Virginia Retirement System rates in next year's budget.
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Pyles said he and other supervisors will meet with the area's legislative delegation today
and ask for help with the increased VRS rates. "If you want to do something, tell the delegates they need to represent you,'' Pyles said to the audience. He said the county does not want to lose the Governor's School and does not want other programs eliminated.
recent years, and said the state has decided to ask localities to pay increased Virginia Retirement System rates in next year's budget.
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Pyles said he and other supervisors will meet with the area's legislative delegation today
and ask for help with the increased VRS rates. "If you want to do something, tell the delegates they need to represent you,'' Pyles said to the audience. He said the county does not want to lose the Governor's School and does not want other programs eliminated.
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Interesting how it is the Governor's school to be highlighted so early in the process....
Didnt the gang run for office decrying how the previous board failed to fund the schools during the past 4 years? I remember a quote somewhere from one of them saying that its the boards responsibility to properly fund the schools. So now that the gang of 3 has to put the money where their mouth is (or was)they take a pass and blame the state delegates.
ReplyDeleteAnother interesting tid bit I found out from talking to my school board member is that the so called special trip to Richmond our Supervisors are taking is the same as they've done every year as part of some Virginia County Association conference day in Richmond.
This new board certainly knows how to use the smoke and mirrors on the citizens thats for sure.
Calling it a "Special Trip" is a marketing tool used by this group to feel important. Fortunately some of us know the difference and bring it to light (anonymous 3:17)
ReplyDeleteNewsvirginian has this today:
http://www2.newsvirginian.com/news/wnv-news/2012/feb/10/legislators-get-augusta-county-letter-asking-vrs-h-ar-1677837/
Puppet strings
ReplyDeleteIs there now NOT a County budget item the Gang won't support? $ for new county bureaucrats to run assessments the Gang's way, no serious look at paring back the School System's budget, $ for full time staff for the Yancy District that's become to lazy to staff its firehouse (even though its probably one of the wealthiest areas of the county) at the expense of every other area making do with less full time fire staff. What's a little taxpayer $ when it comes to the Gang's political desires? I guess the ONLY way for something to meet with the gang's disapproval is for someone like Nancy Sorrells to come out in support of it. I hope Nancy stays active as she can still provide a valuable service to the Citizens in this way!
ReplyDeleteI believe it was candidate Obama who promised if elected he would cut the deficit in half by the end of his first term...
ReplyDelete4 consecutive deficits over $1,000,000,000