ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, February 14, 1991                   TAG: 9102150635
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LESLIE TAYLOR STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


SALEM SCHOOL BOARD OKS BUDGET AMENDMENTS

The Salem School Board Tuesday approved amendments to the current school budget that reflect an overall $62,170 increase.

"The amendments put the 1990-91 budget in a very solid position," said Finance Director Frank Turk. "It will serve as a starting point that the 1991-92 budget can work against."

The amendments to adjust the budget are routine but the current economic slowdown warranted an closer re-evaluation of the revenue projections and spending, Turk said.

Revenue adjustments included a $186,224 increase in state aid, the bulk of it coming from an additional $215,177 in basic school aid funding.

Local revenue dropped $133,765, reflecting a reduction in the amount of revenue generated from the state sales tax, Turk said.

Expenditure adjustments included a $47,320 increase in central administration funds. A portion of the increase came from a larger number of students paying tuition.

Salem High School funds decreased by $228,550, primarily because of a $222,050 drop in salaries of employees going to other city schools. The amount has not been eliminated from the budget but has been moved to cover additional salary requirements at those schools.

Money that had been budgeted for start-up costs for a media center at Salem High has been eliminated. The $4,500 that was budgeted was not enough to cover costs, Turk said. Also, he said since additional funding in the 1991-92 budget is unlikely, the center was cut from the budget.

Transportation funds increased by $32,800. About $30,000 of that is used to pay parents who provide transportation for students with special needs and Roanoke Agencies Dial-A-Ride (RADAR), which provides transportation for the handicapped.



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