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Arlington school officials urged to curb spending
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WASHINGTON (Map, News) - Arlington County schools are asking principals and program managers to curb their spending for the rest of the year as the rising costs of maintenance, fuel and school lunch ingredients are sending the schools over budget.
“We’re just asking them to try to save money and make sure that they’re only buying things that are necessary through the end of the year,” Assistant Superintendent of Finance Mary Beth Chambers said.
“We built our 2009 budget with the anticipation of having a savings of $2.5 million from this year,” Chambers said. “What the midyear report is showing is that if we continue the spending as we have, we may be $1 million short.”
Maintenance costs for the schools’ heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems are expected to be over budget, according to a March 28 memo from schools finance staff to Superintendent Robert Smith.
Parents and students have long complained about inadequate heating and cooling systems in the schools.
The proposed 2009 budget includes a new $3.6 million earmark for maintaining the systems, and the school board recently appointed a task force to examine how to deal with the expensive issue.
“We’re trying to Band-Aid things,” Chambers said. “As we go into the [capital planning] process, we’ll be looking at what can be renewed.”
Lunches also are sending the school system over budget.
“Although we are selling more lunches this year than last, the prices of food have increased greater than anticipated, particularly dairy and bread products,” the midyear financial report said.
Custodial overtime hours and rising health insurance costs also are contributing to the overage. Overtime will be “tightly controlled” by staff for the remainder of the year, according to the report.
tluntz@dcexaminer.com
Comments from Examiner Readers
8:54 PM MST on Tue., Mar. 25, 2008 re: "Future Arlington school projects jeopardized by dwindling funds"
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4:06 AM MST on Fri., Feb. 22, 2008
re: "Arlington County budget expands language program"
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Examiner Reader said:
Now you see the strain that illegals are putting on the system. Will Connolly take action or just continue to waste legal taxpayers money. Enforce the laws Gerry. Chris Cummings
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Examiner Reader said:
Actually, the superintendent's proposed budget is 5.1 percent higher than his proposed budget of last year ($431 million to $410 million); the "1.2-percent increase" touted by the school system is comparing apples to oranges. The final, adopted budget always rises compared to what the superintendent proposes; it's an annual game. But, for consistency's sake, you should compare the superintendent's proposed FY09 plan with his FY08 proposal.
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