Accomack County Board Of Supervisors Want To Use Grant Money To Increase Teacher Salaries

In the Accomack County Board of Supervisors meeting in Accomac on Wednesday night the Board of Supervisors postponed a budget amendment that would have given Accomack County Schools an additional $5-8 million in revenue from the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The Supervisors had a host of questions regarding what is normally a routine adoption of the meeting's agenda, most notably how the money will be spent. The Supervisors wanted as much of the money as possible to be devoted towards teacher salaries before approving the amendment. However, the funds are tied to education initiatives and are not allowed to be used to increase teacher salaries.

The Board unanimously passed a motion to ask for a report on how the funds would be used as well as how the funds raised by a tax increase the Board passed in April before voting for the revenue.

Supervisor Sandy Hart Mears then asked for Accomack County Schools to refund the $730,000 from the tax increase passed in April to the County of Accomack if the additional State Revenue is received.

However, the money in question is not additional money according to Accomack County Schools Finance Director Beth Charnock. The $5-8 million is a lump sum used to fund 30-40 different programs, such as "No Child Left Behind." These programs and initiatives are appropriated into the budget every year and will not give Accomack County any additional funds. The Commonwealth of Virginia as well as the Department of Education have very strict rules and guidelines for the uses of the funds and increasing salaries is not a viable option.

The Board will revisit the amendment at the October Board meeting.
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