Published: January 06, 2010
Melody Kinser
And so it begins.
Yes, it’s budget season, that time of the year when county and school administrators prepare to present numbers to the Hanover County Board of Supervisors and Hanover County School Board. And a very important point is the fact that those proposals are offered to the public for input.
Dr. Stewart D. Roberson, superintendent of Hanover County Public Schools, will present his budget to the School Board on Tuesday, Jan. 12, marking the first step in a lengthy and involved process. While he is the primary in his leadership role, several members of his administrative staff are involved in crunching numbers.
As was stated here a few weeks ago, there is no envy to what Roberson and County Administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. face at budget time — especially when the economy is in turmoil. When federal and/or state funds are reduced or eliminated, the decisions on where and what to cut no doubt become a heavy burden.
And then there could be layoffs or job losses. While we sympathize with anyone faced with either possibility, the school system’s Reduction in Force (RIF) finds teachers unemployed. That move is doubly unfortunate: Someone is jobless and students lose too. No, there’s no inside information as to what will be brought before the School Board next week.
County services and staff may be put on the chopping block this budget season. With the anticipation of funding cuts, Harris and constitutional officeholders must be prepared for worst-case scenarios in operating their offices effectively and sufficiently.
Today, however, speculation is the best word to describe what’s ahead. We will learn on Tuesday what the upcoming budget means to our schools though.
Stay tuned.
Etc.
+ Congratulations to Heart Havens for breaking ground on a new facility in Ashland.
