The Patrick County School Board approved its 2023-24 proposed budget at a March 14 meeting.
Schools Superintendent Jason Wood said the school board has to present its budget to the county administration before April 1 each year, according to state law.
“We still do not have the new calculation tool from the Department of Education (VDOE), so they did what was called a ‘skinny budget’ to correct the errors in the 2023 fiscal year budget,” he said.
Because the division lacks the state numbers, Wood said the current budget is based on last year’s biennium released calculation tool.
“What we are hearing from our vast organization, we are able to present our revenue budget, which is an estimate,” he said.
Once the calculation tool is received, the board will reconvene and present an amended budget to the Patrick County Board of Supervisors.
Wood said submitting the current working budget will ensure the division is in compliance with the state code, and “so that the county will know what we are requesting for our appropriation.”
The revenue budget is $34,827,458.06. The fiscal year 2022-2023 budget was $34,847,872.81.
“Our overall total budget that we’re projecting is actually $20,414.75 less next year than what we’re operating this year,” he said.
Wood said the division’s budget committee also met with the county officials for a budget workshop.
“We had probably the most productive meeting I can remember us having. Great discussions, and it seems from just the discussions we had back and forth that they’re going to include this amount in their budget,” he said.
Walter Scott, chairman and of the Smith River District also said the budget meeting went well.
“It was the best budget meeting I’ve ever been to with the county. I think it’s looking really well,” he said.
In other matters, the board:
*Discussed the upcoming 2023 Virginia School Board Association (VSBA) Spring Networking Forum.
*Heard from Norma Bozenmayer about the recent Distinguished Patrick Countian Assembly.
*Approved the personnel report as amended.
*Heard the superintendent’s report.
*Approved the consent agenda.
*Approved the elementary school handbook.
*Discussed the revised 1 percent sales tax project list.
*Approved directing Wood to seek requests for proposals (RFP) for all of the projects listed in phase II of the 1 percent sales tax project list.
*Directed Wood to meet with Patrick County Treasurer Sandra Stone and discuss the possibility of moving funds into a high interest account, and any penalties that may occur if the funds need to be withdrawn.
