School Board members on Thursday dug in their heels against a budget recommendation that shortfunds the schools by more than $700,000.

Suffolk Public Schools had requested a $1 million local funding increase over last year’s appropriation. However, the city manager’s proposed budget offers only $262,000 more.

“We’re hoping we will be able to share with them the need,” said Dr. Deran Whitney, school superintendent.

The city says the additional funding it has offered would fund the remainder of the school division’s compensation study. However, the school division says that may not be the case if it doesn’t get the full amount it is seeking.

“We obviously are running short,” Whitney said Thursday.

Finance Director Wendy Forsman showed School Board members how much Suffolk funds for education compared to surrounding divisions.

A state calculation that incorporates property values, adjusted gross income and taxable retail sales in the city determines the city’s “ability to pay” for education, and the remainder is funded by the state. The calculation does not include federal funding or capital projects.

All local school divisions fund far more than required. However, Suffolk has been at or near the bottom in recent years as far as how much more it pays.

Of 12 local school divisions, Suffolk has been no higher than 10th in the last four years in the ranking of percentage above the requirement that the locality has funded the schools. Last year, it funded 64.78 percent more. Franklin, on the other hand, was at the top of the list, having funded nearly 140 percent more.

School Board member David Mitnick asked what the division’s position was with regard to the numbers.

“They’re going to say, ‘Well, we’re already paying 64 percent more,’” Mitnick said. “What do we come back with? That we’re at the bottom of the chart?”

Forsman responded, “Not only that we’re at the bottom of the chart, but what do you want for your city? What do you want for your schools?”
School Board member Judith Brooks-Buck said it’s hard to understand when it seems like the city is doing so well.

“It’s hard for me to understand how we’re growing much faster than some of the cities that are contributing more,” she said.

Forsman also noted that the board cut about $500,000 from the superintendent’s proposed budget after state funding did not come through as originally proposed.