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Clovis school board approves preliminary budget

CLOVIS — The Clovis Municipal Schools Board of Education took its turn Tuesday, approving a preliminary budget for 2020-21 knowing full well the final budget will look much different once a June special legislative session concludes.

Still, Deputy Superintendent of Finance Shawna Russell gave a detailed review to the board of the budget she wished to submit as the placeholder ahead of a Friday deadline, and spoke about some of her priorities in creating it.

School finance employees are largely stuck in a holding pattern, because they are creating budgets based on appropriations made in the legislative session that concluded just before the COVID-19 pandemic hit and oil and gas prices cratered. A special session is set for June 18, after which revised appropriations to schools will be made.

Russell, in a statement that drew broad support from the board, said she wanted to keep scheduled 4% raises intact because she doesn't foresee any salary increases coming over the next few years, and recalled how difficult it was on recruitment and retention during the last period of tight state budgets.

The submitted budget is nearly $4 million more than last year’s $65.9 million budget, with a surplus of nearly $900,000 once the state equalization guarantee is factored in.

The next board meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. June 23.

 
 

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