PSS earlier proposed a $54.1 million budget, but BOE said the revised amount reflects the need to fill needed teaching positions for school year 2008-2009.
PSS currently gets $35 million a year and is unlikely to get an almost $20 million budget increase in light of the government’s worsening financial crisis.
The governor’s proposal for FY 2009 budget for PSS is only $38.3 million.
Acting Education Commissioner Craig Garrison said that big bulk of the figure will pay for personnel costs.
The proposed budget also includes the accrued retirement liability PSS wants the Retirement Fund to waive.
PSS has 515 classroom teachers and wants to hire 81 more personnel.
Its proposed budget also includes allocations for books and instructional materials, operational needs, repairs and maintenance, building improvements, and the Office of the Public Auditor’s 1 percent fee.
PSS said it needs $4.4 million for its utilities.
To address its funding shortfall, PSS earlier said its funds should be exempted from the governor’s reprogramming authority, and it should be authorized to secure general obligation bond funding for new schools and facilities.
