During Monday’s night’ s special called meeting, members of the Board of Education made cuts totaling more than $480,000 from the proposed school budget as requested by the county commission’s budget committee. The vote was 4-1-1 to make the cuts and approve the revised budget to be re-submitted to the county budget committee. One proposal which was not cut is an increase in the per diem or pay school board members receive for attending regular meetings and work sessions.
Third District Board member Jim Beshearse told WJLE Wednesday in a text message that while he did vote for the overall revised budget with the cuts, he does not support the proposed increase in pay left in the budget for school board members. “I am not for it at all and if it does get approved by the county commission I will not accept mine (pay increase). We need the money spent on the classrooms,”said Beshearse.
Currently, board members get $50 per regular meeting and $15 per work session. The proposed increase would put their pay more in line with the county commission, members of which receive $150 per regular meeting and $75 per committee meeting/workshop. This budgetary line item in the school spending plan would increase from $6,000 to $18,900 for the year.
The county budget committee will review the revised school budget and others during a meeting Wednesday, June 22 at 5:30 p.m. in the downstairs courtroom of the courthouse.
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