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School Board downgrades money request to 9 cents
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The Warren County Board of Education has readjusted its sights after a vote of county commissioners showed little support for 19 cents.“We’re going to ask for 9 cents,” said Director of Schools Bobby Cox to the Board of Education on the heels of the Warren County Commission rejecting, in a non-binding vote of 19-5, a request from the school system for an additional 19 cents in property taxes for various educational needs. “That would amount to $590,406, the entire amount which will be used to offset insurance costs for school employees.”Cox said the 7.1 percent increase in health insurance costs would hurt many school system employees financially and the 9-cent increase would help cushion the blow for teachers and support staff. The 19-cent increase would have included the insurance offset, $250,000 for a new chiller for the high school, $40,000 apiece for the four school upgrade projects under consideration, and $250,000 for work on the pedestrian bridges at WCMS. All but the health insurance increase have been removed in the new request for 9 cents with Cox planning to talk to the County Commission separately about helping with the school’s four maintenance projects.