Charlottesville School Board members are relieved that Rob Bell's budget amendment failed in Richmond this weekend. They say it would have cost them $2.5 million in funding they cannot afford to lose.
Bell's amendment would have changed a state formula that calculates how much school funding cities and counties receive. The budget amendment would have reworked the state composite index formula to include a Charlottesville and Albemarle County revenue sharing agreement. That would ultimately transfer millions of dollars city schools receive from the state to the county.
Albemarle County School Board members have said the calculation is unfair, but Charlottesville School Board Chair Ned Michie is relieved. He said, "If the county succeeded or tries again and succeeds, then that puts a strain on our relationships. It's going to take $2.5 million a year out of the city, and we can afford it much less than they."
A similar amendment failed once before in 2010. Some, including Michie, say the county could reintroduce legislation for the third time next year.
We reached out to several members of the Albemarle County School Board earlier Monday. No one agreed to comment on camera.
