FRANKLIN—The Franklin City Public School Board approved its $16.8 million budget for the 2013-2014 fiscal year Thursday night.

School Superintendent Dr. Michelle Belle said that after the board worked hard to get it down – with a lot of give and take – she was “very pleased with the way it was worked through.”

The budget includes a three percent pay raise for employees across the board, as well as multiple new positions.

Originally Belle had hoped for a four-percent raise, but adding in two positions, which were eliminated last year at J.P. King Middle School, decreased the raise slightly. However, it is the first raise offered in four years.

The General Assembly’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year includes money to help pay for optional two percent raises for contracted employees, which include teachers, principals, guidance counselors, bus drivers, custodians, cafeteria workers and librarians. The Franklin School’s budget adds the additional one percent raise to the one proposed by Governor Bob McDonnell, bringing the total to three percent.

Belle said the anticipated revenue in the budge, from all federal, state and local sources, is $16,889,959. The current operating budget is $15,905,256, an increase of $984,703.

Belle said she has already presented a proposed budget to the Franklin City Council on April 8, and will send amendments to what was already presented.

“I am very pleased with this balanced budget,” stressed Belle. “It has been a good budget season for us. It is good to have those two positions included, plus a math specialist for the division and a reading specialist for the elementary school are also included.”

“Once the numbers come in — we’ll know — and hopefully we will be funded and can get the job done,” she said.