County schools face $8M cut

VERONA – Augusta County Schools officials are bracing for an projected $8-million cut in state money in the next budget year, possibly triggering furloughs, salary reductions and support staff layoffs.

All types of layoffs are on the table, Superintendent Gary McQuain said during a school board retreat Thursday. “None are fun,’’ he said.

The 2010-11 budget, he said, is the toughest he’s seen in 14 years as superintendent and 35 as an Augusta educator.

Support staff would not include teachers, but could involve office staff and custodians.

Officials won’t have to wait for the budget troubles to begin. The current Augusta budget must be adjusted for what could be as much as a $2.6-million cut in state money for the remainder of the fiscal year that ends in June.

McQuain must wait to see final action by the General Assembly before recommending the school board pass an adjusted 2009-10 budget. The legislature adjourns in March.

Already, McQuain said, “We have frozen spending on most everything.”

District Finance Director Mark Lotts said Augusta can “bridge the gap’’ by tightening spending over the remainder of the fiscal year.

McQuain, who plans to retire at the end of the school year, said his goal is to “keep as many people working and as many people interacting with young people.”

The district tapped some of $3.7 million in federal stimulus money to retain 21 employees this year, but that well has run dry.

The prospect for more money from Richmond is bleak.

Just before leaving office, Gov. Timothy M. Kaine proposed increasing the state income taxes by $2 billion. But his successor, Gov. Robert F. McDonnell, said Monday that he will veto any budget that includes higher taxes.

Augusta school board member Nick Collins, of the North River District, wondered whether administrative costs could be saved by closing an elementary school such as Beverley Manor and shifting those students to two other elementary schools, such as Churchville and Riverheads.

District officials said Riverheads is close enough to capacity that it would make it difficult to accept the 150-plus students needed for such a move.

Wayne District member Jeff Moore said administrative costs at schools also could be looked at more closely.

The school board will next discuss the 2010-11 budget during its regular meeting Feb. 4 and during a Feb. 18 work session.