Gloucester Public Schools officials are not likely to see the full $1,272,008 more they are seeking from the county for fiscal year 2016, according to Gloucester Board of Supervisors vice chairman John Meyer.

Without discussing exact numbers, school officials and supervisors reviewed state and federal accountability programs and the school division’s FY2016 budget request in a meeting last Thursday at the T.C. Walker Education Center that stretched over four hours.

The school division is requesting $24 million in county funds for its proposed $54.8 million FY2016 operating budget, an increase of 5.6 percent over the current local contribution to operating costs. In her proposed budget, county administrator Brenda Garton is recommending that county schools be level funded at $22.7 million.

School division superintendent Walter Clemons said most of the increase being sought is to cover costs associated with opening the new Page Middle School and to pay for a roughly 2 percent raise for all school employees.

Meyer asked Clemons specifically where cuts would be made in his budget proposal if the school division were only level funded for FY2016. “The difference between getting nothing and getting $500,000 is significant. We need to know what you can do,” Clemons said in response.

“We have not given you a wish list,” Clemons continued. “This is a needs-based budget. The not opening of Page is not an option. The school is going to open.”

Meyer later said that a trade would have to be made between elements of the school budget and elements of the county budget. He said, as an example, both sides may have to drop their proposed increases in employee compensation.

Supervisor Robert “JJ” Orth said he thought Clemons had made a very strong case for what the schools needed, and he appreciated it. “The next three weeks are going to be a challenge. This is going to be tough. As you know, the tax rate has been pretty much set,” Orth said.

“It’s going to be tough across the board,” agreed supervisor Chris Hutson, but “I think we can all make this work.” Supervisors are expected to adopt an FY2016 county budget on April 16.