The Howard County School Board passed its fiscal year 2007 operating and capital budgets, which include money for new personnel and funds to renovate two older schools.
The board unanimously passed its $551.5 million operating budget and $88.4 million capital budget.
“This was an extremely smooth process and the least contentious,” said School Board Member Patricia Gordon.
The operating spending plan includes hiring two new guidance counselors for a total of $100,000; a half-time psychologist for $41,000, and two new custodians for a total of $73,000.
The personnel positions had been in jeopardy of being cut from the budget until three Democratic Howard County council members and County Executive James Robey worked out an agreement to give the board an additional $220,000 in funds from the county?s contingency fund for the posts.
Some of the items not funded in the operating budget were:
» $725,000 in employee turnover salaries.
» $1.6 million in health insurance.
» $384,000 in building maintenance of older schools.
» $82,000 for a pupil personnel worker.
As for the capital budget, the spending plan includes $11 million to begin phase one renovations at Clarksville Middle and Worthington Elementary schools, two of the oldest schools in the county. Similar to the case involving the operating budget, several Democratic Council members worked out an agreement with Robey to transfer $3 million from the Banneker Fire Station Replacement Fund to use toward renovations at Clarksville, which had been short $3.6 million in the capital budget.
School Board members described the overall budget process as being smooth compared to those of previous years.
“I?m grateful to our department heads and to the county government who made education a priority,” said Courtney Watson.
Added Joshua Kaufman, “I want to thank [Superintendent] Dr. [Sydney] Cousin for his trend of presenting the board with a responsible budget.”
“I also want to thank our citizens who look at this budget and dissect it with us,” said Diane Mikulis.
“It?s time to spend it [money in the budget] on our children,” said Mary Kay Sigaty.
