Bertie Schools Propose Budget Increase

By Cal Bryant - Friday, May 19, 2006 - Roanoke-Chowan News-Herald

WINDSOR - Bertie County Public Schools is in need of additional local funds.

How much of a projected $1.54 million hike they requested remains in the hands of the Bertie Board of Commissioners.

Meeting with the Bertie School Board here Thursday afternoon, the commissioners closely studied a formal budget request as Bertie Superintendent Dr. Nettie Collins-Hart gave a Power Point presentation.

The bottom line revealed a request in the amount of $1,543,000 of additional local funds from the commissioners for the upcoming 2006-07 fiscal year.

For 2005-06, the Bertie school system operates with a shade over $2 million in local funding, meaning the proposed increase would nearly double the current budget.

Cal has provided extra detail about the budget requests, but has not addressed the major issue, how can Bertie County contemplate doubling the requested budget for the BOE when student enrollment is going down, our central administration is excessive, the number of schools is being reduced and the previous administration was clearly wasting money. Will there ever be any solution to our problems that involves tightening our belts, addressing the problems and focusing on the classroom?

This budget does not make sense. See other comments below in my article "Smoke and Mirrors?"