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Dare County Schools has been allocated roughly 20% of the county’s recommended operating budget.

For fiscal year 2023, local current expense for the school system totals $25,341,481.

The funding is set by a formula agreed to in a 2016 agreement between the school system and the county.

In this year’s recommended budget, the school system is receiving an increase of $1.2 million due to a consumer price index rate of 8.1%.

Also, the total allocation has an additional $250,000 to increase teacher supplements.

Carried in the county’s budget are salaries for school nurses and school resource officers. That salary total is $1,319,826.

The 2016 agreement created a $1 million target for the school system’s fund balance. “Due to prudent management and use of CARES Act grant funds, the Schools fund balance of the General Fund ended 2021 at $3,668,117,” states the recommended budget document.

Under state law, the excess over $1 million must be returned to the county. So for one year only, the allocation to Dare County Schools is $2,668,117 less.

The proposed county budget allocates the one-time money of $2 million to a new Storm Water Fund and $668,117 to the Inlet Maintenance Fund for dredge spoil sites for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers use.

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