Burlington School Board endorses budget
Published: Wednesday, December 13, 2006
By Jill Fahy
Free Press Staff Writer
The Burlington School Board on Tuesday gave preliminary approval to a $41,106,066 budget for 2007-08 that is up nearly $3 million, or 7.85 percent, over this year's budget.
The 11-to-2 vote came nearly three hours into the meeting. Board members Marrisa Caldwell and Chris Haessly voted against the spending plan.
The plan includes $348,173 in cuts, including eliminating five elementary school paraeducator positions and reducing the number of special education paraeducators by between 8 and 9 positions. Among the nearly $630,000 in budget increases are some $300,000 in staffing, including support staff for English as Second Language students; a reading and math staffer at the high school; and the addition of a health care benefits specialist.
The overall effect of the budget scenario on the tax rate won't be known until January, when the Vermont Department of Taxes issues the Common Level of Appraisal for Burlington.
The board will hold public hearings on the budget over the coming weeks. The board will likely make its final budget approval in mid-January.
Contact Jill Fahy at 660-1898 or jfahy@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com
