Highland Supervisor Hold Virtual Budget Hearing
The Highland County Board of Supervisors held their public hearing on the proposed budget virtually Thursday evening. There was no comment from the public, which could participate via phone and videochat. There was a back and forth between Supervisor Harry Sponaugle and Highland School Superintendent Dr. Tom Schott about school funding. Mr. Sponaugle first questioned whether new money available from the state was included in the budget – Dr. Schott explained this would be in the form of a grant which would have to be applied for, and was intended for COVID-19 relief funding only, and he would apply it to applicable areas if received. Mr. Sponaugle then questioned the total amount of the request, given the amount of state funding. Dr. Schott explained that the expanded state funding would likely be available for the next two years, then get scaled back, and his intent was to keep the requests at a point that when state funding did decrease, the amount of the request increase at that point would not be so jarring. He anticipated presenting a level funded budget next year.
The Supervisors could not take action on the budget at this meeting – they have another virtual meeting scheduled for Thursday at 7:30 pm.
The Supervisors also adopted a resolution during the meeting honoring former Supervisor Jerry Rexrode, who passed away recently – it reads:
(See Attachment for Resolution)