The Nye County school board approved the district's final budget last Wednesday, which ended on an optimistic note that allows possible funding for new teachers.

However, the school district, just like the county and the town, is facing an increase in expenditures as well.

The final budget that was approved accounted for a 2 percent salary increase for employees, a 10 percent increase in health insurance, and a 15 percent increase in property and liability insurance.

Once all the desks, texts, and teachers, buses, and supplies needed for a school are paid for, however, the district has an ending fund balance of $3,453,604, which does not factor in growth or additional expenses.

The majority of that balance, $2,453,604, was also approved to be used as funding for additional district employees, such as teachers, assistant principals, and counselors for ten schools, including a head teacher/part-time dean for Round Mountain Elementary school.

This leaves the district with an even $1,000,000 ending balance for the 2007-08 fiscal year.

Like any good government budget, a wish list was included, prioritizing the what district would like to acquire if it finds itself with some extra change in its pocket.

Among the items the school board would like for Christmas (or would just plain like) are two more teachers, one for Rosemary Clarke Middle School and one for Pahrump Valley High School, two more grounds and maintenance workers to keep the schools looking pristine, additional funding for substitute pay, and some more cash for textbooks.