[New] Powhatan Today announces change

star ting Jan. 25, Powhatan Today will reduce the number of homes that receive the free publication by mail.

readers can still find free copies of the Powhatan Today on racks at several local businesses. a full list can be found today on page a2. also, you can read each week’s entire edition of Powhatan Today for free at https://issuu.com/powhatantoday. That website also has years’ worth of past editions available.

Publisher Joy Monopoli

Managing Editor Laura McFarland lmcfarland@powhatantoday.com

Sports Editor Robby Fletcher rfletcher@powhatantoday.com

Production Manager denine d angelo ddangelo@mechlocal.com

Sales Representative tom haynie thaynie@mechlocal.com

Classifieds Cindy adams cadams@mechlocal.com

WE WANT TO PUBLISH YOUR ISSUE-DRIVEN LETTERS

Powhatan Today welcomes your Letters to the editor on topics of concern to you and the community. Letters, which should be no longer than 400 words, must include the name, address and telephone number of the author. The deadline is noon theThursday before publication, but letters may be held until the following week upon the editor’s discretion. The publisher or editor of Powhatan Today reserves the right to edit or withhold from publication any letter for any reason whatsoever. Once received, all letters become the possession of Powhatan Today. Letters reflect the opinion of the author, not necessarily that of Powhatan Today or its staff.

Powhatan today is published weekly on wednesdaywith offices located at 8460 times dispatch Blvd., Mechanicsville, Va 23116. Periodical Postage paid at Powhatan, Va. 23139. USPS # 000-035 © 2023 by Richmond Suburban newspapers. all advertising and editorial matter is fully protected and may not be reproduced in any manner without the permission of the publisher. CaC audited Circulation: 11,026.

High School Team Wins Chili Cookoff

From A1

Budgetprovided by the state on Dec. 16, 2022.

“It is subject to change as the state initiatives are approved and amended by the General Assembly, so please just remember this is a first draft – it probably, most likely will change,” she said.

The budget that Halloway presented to the school board projects revenues for the school at $59.03 million, which is almost $3.77 million more than the FY2023 budget adopted by the board last year.

In this initial draft, PCPS is requesting $27,588,203 in local funds, a $1.7 million or 6% increase over FY2023 adopted. She pointed out that it is less than the increase the school division received from the county between FY2021 and FY2022 (6.5%) and FY2022 to FY2023 (8.5%). Local funds in this budget represent 46.74% of the division’s projected revenues.

In addition to mentioning federal, other local and food service revenues, Halloway pointed out that these figures did not include the carryover ESSER federal funds that could be used to fund some of the items. The funds have to be used by June 2024.

The state revenues for FY2024 are budgeted at $27,168,153, which is 46.02% of the division’s total projected budget. The amount PCPS will receive is driven by the ADM (average daily membership) and the composite index, both of which saw a decrease, as well as SOQ formulas that are set by the state. The governor’s revised plan for FY2024 increases state revenue by $2,155,937.

Normally, there are only a few potential expenditure changes that impact the budget, and they are salary adjustments, VRS rate changes, health insurance premiums and new positions.

One of the biggest cost increases in this projected budget is a 5% pay increase for staff. The revenue that Powhatan will receive toward the increase is $1,490,791. However, a 5% increase will cost the division $1,980,094, requiring local funds in the amount of $489,303, Halloway said.

There is an amount of $121,494 provided (with a $128,803 local match) for a bonus payment from the state proposed by the governor. Halloway said not much information has been given about this bonus from the state and she expects it to change.

The purchased services section of the budget has a proposed increase of $920,079, with the bulk of that accounted for in maintenance contracts (up $576,600); legal services ($211,370); and purchased services ($115,452). The other charges section line items, which include utilities, postage, insurances, rentals, and travel, went up $106,794, with the bulk of the increase in heating fuel. High fuel costs will likely be an ongoing topic for the board.

The school division is projecting large increases in furniture and fixtures ($90,000); software ($139,957); and non-capital technology hardware ($356,200).

There are also many categories that decreased, stayed the same or increased anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand.

The school division has no control over VRS rate changes and health insurance premiums but does have a limited ability to control health insurance costs when setting the amount of the premium that is paid by the employee. Initial talks with the division’s health