VB schools get budget break from state

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) - It has been a long time since any sort of good news came out of a school budget meeting. But Tuesday night in Virginia Beach, the latest budget twist gave the board some hope for things ahead.

"It's been a long process," said Chief Financial Officer Farrell Hanzaker, "up and down with the numbers. But we have a final budget."

One month ago, the board was facing more than $40 million in cuts. Cost-saving steps included increasing some class sizes, cutting non-personnel expenses, and making schools more energy efficient. But after the state finalized its budget, the district got $11 million more than they planned for.

"It's still cuts," said Virginia Beach School Board Chairman Daniel Edwards. "We're still doing things we would prefer not to have to do."

The extra money eases the financial burden on a school system that still has to cut $32 million out of this year's budget.

"These are a lot of the things that an ongoing basis we should be doing that we're just flat out not doing because of the situation that we're all in," said Edwards.

The extra money means the board can put off cost-saving measures like increasing all class sizes. Virginia Beach Education Association President Dominic Melito said it is a good sign for teachers.

"We're just pleased that it looks like there won't be any need for layoffs and we'll be able to keep everyone employed."

But this makes it a second straight year teachers will go without a pay raise, and if the plans for the 2011-2012 budget stay the same, it will be three years.

"We love it. That's why we do it," said Melito, "but it would be nice if we could get paid to do it as well."

This extra money is only a temporary break from the budget challenges every school district faces. Virginia Beach will have to deal with millions of dollars more in more budget cuts in 2011.