HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_0128 (2)and to anticipate an annual budget so the long-range planning can
be done rather than planning one year at a time for facilities.
Dr. Register expressed his appreciation of the county
commissioners' increased appropriations over the past two years.
One concern that he has is that Iredell County is considered an
affluent county in comparison with some other counties in the
state. A trend toward equalized funding is coming about statewide.
In this year's state budget there is a proposal in the expansion
for $10 million in equalization funds. What that means in Iredell
County, since our comparative status is favorable with the other
counties in North Carolina, is that we can expect over the next few
years a lesser amount of the expansion funds from the state. The
state is going to equalize funding based on per pupil wealth in the
individual counties. That will really put a strain on the county
commissioners, yet what can be expected from the state in the next
few years is a decline in the state's allocation to the county for
current expense.
Mr. Long said the board has received less from the state, and
their request of the county have gone up. The school system since
merger has operated on $2 million less the first year, about $1.4
million less the second year, and the request is still about
$900,000 less than it has been for the local current expense fund.
Chairman Haire inquired if anyone has any questions of Dr.
Register and Mr. Long.
Commissioner Boone said he had questions about some specific
items in the capital improvements fund. He wanted to know about
the asbestos removal. Dr. Register said they had an asbestos
abatement management plan that has to be updated on an annual
basis. The proposals that are being submitted in this year's
budget for asbestos abatement comply with the plan and what they
feel is a necessity. Dr. Nance said where the asbestos is being
removed is where boilers are being replaced and the asbestos has to
be removed. This is about 75% of the asbestos removal. There is
$75,000 for telephone in the new buildings and facilities.
Commissioner Boone inquired about the telephone equipment, to
which Dr. Register replied it is for the new schools and remodeling
the schools and updating out-of-date equipment. There is $75,000
for telephones in the new building and facilities.
Commissioner Boone remarked that the extra costs on equipment
the new schools are not included in the original cots for building.
Paving of a road was not included, but the board decided to go
ahead and do it because of the wet weather this year. The pavement
was a needed improvement that could be done more cost effective at
the present time.
Dr. Register said virtually all the furniture that is
included in the budget is for student furniture. Much of the
furniture that the school has is old and isn't appropriate for
instructional programs now. They started a program two years ago
that started in the first grade and, moving up through the grades,
they plan to allocate a certain amount of money every year until
they have replaced the oldest and outdated furniture that they
have. Next year the budget will include replacing the old
furniture in the third grades and moving on into the fourth grades.
It is estimated that about $65,000 to $80,000 per grade level is
needed to do what is needed, Register said. That is why it has to
be done over time.
The technology allocation is a high priority of the board of
education, and it is known a great deal of money will have to be
spent there. Everything cannot be done in one year. This figure
is somewhat high this year because of the middle school building
program. Implementation of a technology system in each new middle
school is being done. It makes sense to do it when the building is
being constructed. That is the top priority in technology, because
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