The Fluvanna County School Board says it needs more money from the board of supervisors, this time to offset the rising costs of healthcare for employees. The schools will request $535,000 at the next supervisors meeting on Wednesday, June 20.
Back in May, the school system was confronted with a $2.3 million budget shortfall, forcing them to make serious cuts to close the gap. Many were concerned the new Fluvanna County High School wouldn't open its doors for another year, but the board of supervisors came through with $650,000 in additional funds. But despite that, the schools say they need more to protect health coverage for employees.
"We've reached a point in our budget where we're having to use funds that would typically go to benefits, and we're having to use those funds to operate," said Superintendent Gena Keller.
Right now, employees only receive about $440 for health insurance from the school system, regardless of the price of their plan. The additional costs are then passed along to employees. For some who opt into family insurance plans, those additional costs can add up to around $1,500. But that's not even the worst news.
Keller said, "People who maybe make $15,000 to $18,000 a year, they could conceivably - after paying for a family plan for health insurance - take home about $30 or $40 a month."
In response, Fluvanna County Board of Supervisors Chairman Shaun Kenney said in an email:
"The request is a non-starter. The Board is focusing on economic development and infrastructure in order to pay for the school system without placing the burden on the backs of local taxpayers. Until the economy recovers and the resources are there, we can't keep stealing from one half of the county to pay for the other half. It has to end somewhere."
"It's bigger than just this particular issue, I understand that," Keller said. "But it behooves us as members of the school system to get right back in there and ask, and paint the picture as to what this does to our employees nonetheless."
Eight instructional assistants face the most serious risk, if the request fails June 20, and may be forced to drop their health coverage altogether.
