Board OKs leftover money transfer to school severances

By J.R. Williams -- jrwilliams@nvdaily.com

WINCHESTER -- Thanks to some careful accounting, Frederick County Public Schools will have a little more breathing room when preparing difficult budgets.

Frederick County supervisors on Wednesday voted 4-3 to deliver $1.84 million in leftover 2009 school funds to help pay for the school system's voluntary severance program.

Paying the cost over one year -- instead of over three years as originally proposed -- will generate $151,180 in savings, according to a letter from Lisa K. Frye, executive director of finance for the school system.

The one-time payment also eliminates the need for $996,563 to be budgeted to the school system for the 2011 and 2012 spending plans.

School officials originally had requested $1.9 million. Updated costs of the severance program allowed for the revised request, which is part of a "phase-out" of federal stimulus funds, the letter states. Total cost for the program is about $2.8 million.

The supervisors' decision was narrow. Several board members expressed concern that such a large sum could be a welcome shot in the arm down the road.

"Knowing that we're not going to have more revenue, I would be more in favor of holding this money and giving it to them next year," Gainesboro Supervisor Gary Dove said.

The severance program on its own is estimated to save the school system $1.3 million, the letter states.

Supervisors Gene Fisher, Charles DeHaven, Gary Lofton and Richard Shickle voted to provide the funds. Dove, Bill Ewing and Philip Lemieux voted against.

The school system also has an additional $941,493 in remaining funds, the letter from Frye states. The School Board voted Tuesday to return that amount to the county's general fund.

Also Wednesday, supervisors discussed the future of the Starting Point Public Inebriate Center following a decision by the Winchester City Council to level its funding of the program at $90,000.

Council members recently voted against appropriating an additional $25,000 to the center to ensure its operation for six months. Starting Point is jointly funded by Frederick County.

"We will be required to reduce staff and hours to work within the budget," County Administrator John R. Riley Jr. said.

Riley said he would monitor the usage of the facility for two weeks, but that likely the center would be forced to only operate Thursday through Sunday.

The center currently is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.