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265 <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox noted that if you remove CDBG funds, little is designated in the Capital <br />budget for neighborhood improvements, and said that if we are trying to be strategic about <br />housing, we need to appropriate more money to prepare for that. <br /> <br />Mr. O'Connell said that there is a need to better coordinate the CDBG and CIP funds. <br /> <br /> lvlr. Toscano said there may be a need to increase funding for housing initiatives in the <br />long-term. <br /> <br />Mr. Cox expressed surprise that day care requests were unfunded in the budget. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards noted that a housing inspector position is recommended, but she feels <br />there is also a need to better enforce zoning ordinances. <br /> <br /> Mr. O'Connell said some restructuring may be able to be done to increase enforcement <br />of zoning ordinances. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano requested information be provided on the following for discussion at the <br />budget work session: are new transit configurations working, what is the cost per trip; and <br />have increased headways increased efficiencies; update on sunsetted programs; update on <br />funds spent for tax and rent relief programs and historic preservation loans; are program <br />measures being met that were set last year; and is there a national standard for allocating <br />Capital Improvement funds. <br /> <br />PRESENTATION: SCHOOL BOARD'S PROPOSED FY 97-98 BUDGET <br /> <br /> Ms. Mary-Susan Payne, Chair of the Charlottesville School Board, presented the <br />School Board's proposed budget, totaling $33,998,277, $21,719,000 from the City, with <br />$430,745 in additional funds that are not part of the School Board's budget (alternative <br />education program, CLASS Program, Families Learning Together, and the Drug <br />Coordinator). Ms. Payne said that the School Board is also requesting additional funding <br />from the City to increase teacher salaries. <br /> <br /> Dr. William Symons, Superintendent of City Schools, said that his priorities for the <br />budget include resource utilization, retention of students, and a common focus on quality of <br />learning. Dr. Symons asked that Council continue the special appropriation or roll them into <br />the School's budget, and asked that the Schools be able to carry over the $147,924 remaining <br />from the alternative school. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox noted that if the Council provided additional funding for teacher salary <br />increases, the per pupil cost would increase to over $8,000 per students, and asked what the <br />school division can do within its existing budget to fund teacher salaries. <br /> <br /> Dr. Symons said that he feels substantial changes can be made within a year, and said <br />that he feels the answer is in reducing the number of people currently employed by the school <br />system. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox expressed concern about delaying decisions for a year, and said that if quality <br />education cannot be created with less money than the City may have to consider reversion. <br />Mr. Cox asked if there are other savings that could be made to support teacher salaries that <br />would not affect classroom instruction. <br /> <br /> Ms. Richards asked Dr. Symons to clarify how open enrollment might work without <br />adding to the budget. <br /> <br /> Dr. Symons said that the Schools would receive state funding for each student enrolled, <br />and students could be added on a space available basis on the condition that it would not <br />increase the cost to the system. <br /> <br /> Mr. Cox expressed concern about the cost and size of special education programs, and <br />asked if some students could be served better by mainstreaming. <br /> <br /> <br />