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BOE budget up $700,000, no property tax increase The Early County School Board of Education will meet July 22 to consider the adoption of the final budget for the 2008-09 fiscal year. The new budget comes in at $19,359,644, an approximate $700,000 increase over last year's $18.6 million budget. A state-mandated 2.5 percent pay increase for teachers will cost the system $300,000 and increased enrollment at the elementary school requires five new teachers. One kindergarten, two first grade and two special education teachers have been added to the elementary school's staff. The cost of special education continues to increase with the demands of No Child Left Behind. NCLB requires that students with disabilities are required to be tested and to meet the same requirements as non-disabled students. Mandated class sizes are also a consideration. Rising fuel and food costs and continued state budget amendments also affect the local budget. While the state did not impose additional amendments to state funding, the system is not receiving approximately $150,000 as a result of past amendments still in effect. Lunch prices are increasing at system schools. For elementary school students, lunch will cost $1.50 a day and middle and high school students will pay $2. Approximately 70 percent of the system's 1,200 students receive free or reduced price lunches. School system officials say the board has no plans to increase the millage rate to fund this year's budget. The BOE will meet July 22, 5:30 p.m. at the middle school for final adoption of the budget.
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