By a 3-1 margin Tuesday night, the Mathews School Board adopted its 2022-2023 budget, sending it on to county supervisors for their consideration.

The $20.6 million budget request contains a number of unknowns, most significantly, the anticipated amount of state funding. The school board’s budget was based on last year’s biennial budget proposed by former Gov. Ralph Northam which the General Assembly has yet to adopt.

The budget adopted by the school board during Tuesday’s meeting, which was held in the Mathews High School media center, includes a 6 percent increase (5 percent plus one step on the salary scale) as well as adjusting all salary scales to provide for a minimum pay of $15/hour for all employees.

The budget also includes nearly $95,000 to fund an estimated 8 percent increase in health insurance payments. Staff additions would include two career and technology teachers (one at Thomas Hunter Middle School and the other at MHS), a school counselor at THMS, maintainin...