The Tyler County Board of Education approved a $15,964,861 budget for the 2008 and 2009 school year Monday night at its regular session.

The nearly $16 million budget reflects approval of $12,300 in operating funds to the Sistersville Public Library and $1,400 to the Tyler County Public Library in Middlebourne. Because of the Sistersville library’s designation as the county library, the board is obligated to provide funding for the institution.

The Tyler County Library receives $1,400 from the board and traditionally a grant from the Stealey Foundation and other sources for continued operation.

This year’s budget also reflects an increase in funding to the Tyler County West Virginia University extension office of $5,000 for a total of $13,800 for the year with other monies to come from Tyler County Commissioners.

Tyler County Education Association members were granted their request that optical insurance pay for new glasses on an annual basis. The increase was calculated at $5,500 for the eye exam every 12 months.

Treasurer Jeff Davis explained to cover all options, the increase would be $12,500, and he recommended the board take a wait and see attitude rather than extend service only to later have to rescind the courtesy.

Under the current expense fund, Tyler County schools will receive $8,598,793 in state allocations. Local revenue will generate 33.87 percent of the budget or $4,586,143 with an actual carryover from this school year of $357,488. Davis said this means the county is not borrowing against its current carryover to pay for the coming school year.

The local share has been increased from six to 10 percent as per Charleston’s decree. Originally Gov. Joe Manchin III had requested wording in SB 451 that the monies would be used for salaries. The increased pay out was part of the governor’s five and a half percent increase in teacher salaries. However, the bill was passed without that stipulation.

However, the local shares vary from county to county based on the tax base, meaning Tyler County would receive less than other counties.

Superintendent Jeff Hoover has requested the board use the local share increase monies to fund positions outside the funding formula. The local increase amounts to $88,545.

Explaining the funding from the state, Davis said the 84.61 percent, or $11,457,744, for salaries and fixed costs reflects teachers who have formally tendered their resignations and the cost to replace them. He also noted that since 1988 the student population has dipped from 2,089 students county wide to 613 for the 2007 to 2008 school year. When Tyler Consolidated opened the county population was 1,849.

Broken down, $8,085,306 has been allocated to professional positions and $2,914,100 to service personnel.

Utilities take up 4.13 percent, or $559,110, of the budget; clearing accounts, or a portion of the food services, 2.17 percent or $222,560; and all other expenses, 9.62 percent or $1,303,010.

Tyler County is expected to receive $167,842 for school bus replacement. Davis said this would pay for two new buses.

Title I funding has been decreased by five percent from the previous year and will be used to fund five professional elementary school teachers, one professional preschool teacher, 0.33 of the Title I director’s salary, 0.35 percent of the administrative secretary’s salary, after school tutoring and a limited amount of supplies and equipment.