Blue Ridge expects no tax increase

Taxes are expected to remain steady this year in the Blue Ridge School District. The board, which met in a work session Monday, April 24, discussed the 2017-18 district budget.
The district began the budget process after whittling away at a $1.4 million deficit in the proposed budget.
Superintendent Matthew Button said that deficit reflected all of the projects that have been discussed by the board in recent months. Some of those projects will be handled through the district’s capital reserve, while other long-range plans are part of a five-year capital reserve plan.
With eliminating contingencies in the budget, the district has reached a $350,000 deficit which it plans to cover by utilizing monies in the fund balance.
The Dept. of Education approved the district’s request to forgive the 180-day school year requirement for students. The board is expected to vote on the measure which would shorten the students’ school year by three days this year.
If approved by the board, the last day of school for students would be June 13.
Teachers are required to work 186 days, Button said, and their last day would be June 20. Graduation is scheduled to be held Saturday, June 17.
The Blue Ridge Board of Education will hold a business meeting on Monday, May 1 at 7 p.m. in the elementary school cafeteria.