Barring any more budget manuevers by the governor's office, the budget for Nye County schools in the 2008-2009 academic year will be $59,862,701. Wednesday night, the board of trustees unanimously approved that figure, which represents an increase of about $2.2 million the district will spend during the school year that ends June 30.

The approved budget includes $59,384,305 in expenditures and $478,396 in an unreserved fund balance.

In the 2007-08 budget, there were total expenditures of $55,982,379, with an unreserved fund balance of $1,634,388. A year earlier, the numbers were $49,780,879 and $2,680,388, respectively.

The budget, incidentally, is a 35-page document noting that salaries and benefits will include a 3 percent raise and eligible step increases for all personnel in the 2008-2009 school year.

Also funded are administrators, teachers and classified personnel who will staff Floyd Elementary School, a project Superintendent Rob Roberts said "will be finished early and will be under budget."

The Floyd personnel costs will total $874,000, including:

*$100,000 for the principal;

* $48,000, assistant principal;

* $73,000, counselor;

* $68,000, music teacher;

* $68,000, physical education teacher;

* $68,000, exploratory teacher;

* $86,000, clerical staff;

* $59,000 10-month secretary;

* $35,000, 6.5-hour health aide;

* $26,000, 5.5-hour libary aide;

* $16,500, part-time lunch aides;

* $60,000, day custodian;

* $156,000, three night custodians.

Other noted increases:

* 10 percent in health insurance premiums ($630,200);

* 15 percent over fiscal year 2006-2007 in maintenance and operations for services, supplies and equipment, including Floyd Elementary ($521,221);

* Secretary for an assistant superintendent ($58,500);

* Registered nurse at Hafen Elementary, replacing a health aide ($27,600);

* 5.5-hour clerical aide at Pahrump Valley High School counseling office ($21,700);

* 10 additional days for one PVHS counselor to develop a four-year plan for each ninth-grade student ($3,000);

* Transportation manager increased from 208 to 218 days ($3,580);

* Two assistant football coaches at PVHS ($4,500), and

* Purchase a financial accounting package valued at $202,959, including $66,048 for use of a current budgeted amount for data processing, $97,411 for an e-rate rebate for fiscal year 2008-2009, and $39,500 for hardware upgrade.

The board also:

* Approved an expenditure of $38,000 out of the year-end balance to fund field trips for students in grades K-8 in the 2008-2009 school year, at the urging of member Harold Tokerud;

* Voted 4-3 against a salary increase for the special education director;

* Tabled any decision on a proposed $6,000 raise for the transportation director, pending further administrative study;

* Approved a salary increase for Max Buffi, now the principal at Pahrump Valley High School. The increase is for the period April 14 to June 30;

* Approved a bid from U.S. Food Service for paper supplies, frozen meat, refrigerated food and canned and dry goods.

Jerry Hill, assistant superintendent for student achievement, said two grants will fund hands-on science programs and computer classes at Rosemary Clarke Middle School and Mt. Charleston Elementary. The grants total $141,000.

The board went into executive session at 8:40 p.m, to "discuss restraint issues, possible litigation, personnel issues and negotiations," according to the agenda.