The Shadow
Asking the state for financial assistance in merging Alleghany County and Covington schools remains on hold.
A committee handling the merger negotiations decided again Thursday night to delay asking the General Assembly to provide money until firmer details are in place.
The committee met Thursday at Jackson River Technical Center to discuss asking the General Assembly for money to equalize employee salaries in a merged school division.
The idea of approaching the state for money was on hold until Jacob Wright, chairman of the joint committee, held conversations with Del. Terry Austin, R-Buchanan, earlier in the week.
Friday was the deadline for filing budget requests with the General Assembly, which convened in Richmond on Wednesday for a 60-day session.
“Delegate Austin suggested that we get some information to him by the Friday deadline for a placeholder number going into the second year of the biennium,” Wright said.
Lawmakers in Richmond are working on a new two-year budget for the state. Austin’s idea was to carry money to equalize employee salaries forward to the second year of the budget. That would give the committee more time to finalize its merger plan.
Austin, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, orignally told the committee to hold off on making a budget request until a meeting is held in Richmond on Jan. 14.
Noting that Democrats now control the General Assembly, Austin said the committee needed to get a feel for the political atmosphere in Richmond before asking for money.
But Sen. Creigh Deeds, a Bath County Democrat, urged Austin to proceed with making the budget request.
It is estimated that it would cost $1.5 million a year to equalize employee salaries and benefits under a merged Alleghany County-Covington school division.
However, Jonathan Arritt, who represents the Covington School Board on the merger committee, said it is not known how long the state would need to provide the money.
An incentive for employees at the top of the wage scale to consider early retirement would be part of the plan to equalize salaries.
Wright said filing a budget request this year would be non-binding and it would be withdrawn if the proposal does not receive support from Covington City Council, the Covington School Board, the Alleghany County Board of Supervisors and the Alleghany County School Board.
“The money is there. But I?don’t think the General Assembly is going to go forward until all four boards say, ‘yes’ to it, Alleghany County School Superintendent Gene Kotulka said.
Lawmakers are working with a revenue surplus in Richmond as they craft a budget.
Gov. Ralph Northam presented the General Assembly with a proposed $138 billion two-year spending plan in December.
The budget for the 2020-21 and 2021-22 fiscal years would represent an 11.3 percent increase over the $124 billion appropriated in the previous budget.
Northam is counting on continued 4 percent growth in the state’s economy to fund his budget.
But a budget request can still be filed by the mid-way point of this year’s assembly session. However, after the Friday deadline, Austin would need permission from the house speaker to file a budget amendment on the committee’s behalf.
Covington Mayor Tom Sibold suggested that the committee take its time and continue to develop a plan before making any budget request to the state.
The mayor said facility upgrades and maintenance needs should be included in the request. He recommended that the committee create subcommittees to begin addressing those areas of concern.
“There are several things that need to happen down the road, but I don’t think we need to do anything tonight,” Sibold said. “Just because the money is there does not mean that we need to do anything. I?don’t think that’s a good reason.”
The Jan. 14 meeting in Richmond will include representatives from the House Appropriations Committee and the Virginia Department of Education.
The committee hopes that lawyers who are helping develop the merger plan will also be present, along with Austin and Deeds.
The committee will meet on Jan. 16 at Jackson River Technical Center to receive an update on the Richmond meeting.
“At this point, personally, I?feel like we are at 55 percent to 65 percent of where we need to be,” said Alleghany County Board of Supervisors Chairman Matt Garten.
“I think we are going to go an extra step and have our law firm get more involved and finalize things,”?Garten added.
