Mathews County School Board members got their first look at the draft 2013-2014 budget Tuesday night, and unlike the past few years, they were pleasantly surprised by the numbers.

The news is much better than last year, when the division was forced to lay off several employees. "We took our hit last year, personnel-wise," Superintendent of Schools David J. Holleran said during the budget work session, which was held in the Mathews High School media center.

An increase in enrollment, a slight drop in debt service and administration/health costs, combined with the foresight of tackling the entire 5 percent increase in Virginia Retirement Service payments in last year’s budget, means that the division will be seeking an increase of only $152,801 in local funds, a number Holleran said is relatively small, considering the entire $12.8 million budget.

Included in the budget proposal is a 2 percent pay increase, plus step, for all employees. Gov. Bob McDonnell has proposed a 2 p...