Drafting

a budget for a burgeoning school system is a

challenge in itself.

Toss

in an ever-changing formula and a handful of

funding changes and you have a financial puzzle.

Jim Stephens, finance director for the Fayette

County School System, briefed the school board on

the progress to date on the district's fiscal

year 2001 budget Monday night.

"I

think we should wind up with about $67.5 million,

based on the QBE (Quality Based Education)

formula," Stephens said. "This year, we

should see a $3 million increase in state

funding."

Stephens

is currently collecting data from the numerous

school district departments and working with this

year's school population figures.

"There

is a lot of movement in the formula," he

said, referring to the state allocation formula.

He explained that funds are being switched around

from one area to another; from middle schools,

for example, to high schools. He expects Fayette

County's fair share contribution to the state for

aiding less affluent counties to be about $1.5

million.

Stephens

predicted $3 million in growth from local funds

and about $6.1 million in new revenue based on

Fayette County's 6 percent digest growth. The

board will meet for a work session April 10 to

tackle the first phase of the budgeting process,

reviewing input from staff and schools.

Teachers

will receive a 3 percent pay raise from the state

and are requesting an increase in the local

supplement as well. "It's been a number of

years since the local supplement has

increased," Judy Byrd, human resources

director for the school district, told the board.

She also asked for a cost of living raise for

classified employees. Byrd estimated these two

recommendations would cost about $287,811.

Stephens

also warned the board to expect a substantial

increase in the cost of providing state health

benefits, about $2 million more.

"By

mid-April we should have the final funding

documentation from the state," Stephens

said. "We're looking at a zero-based

budget."

Budgets

from the schools are due March 25, and the board

will meet for a budget workshop April 10. The

regular board meeting will be April 17 and May 1,

there will be a second budget workshop. The board

will hold its regular May meeting on the 15. A

final budget work session will be held on June 5

with budget finalization set for the June 19

board meeting.

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