After having its request for county funds cut by more than $630,000, the Mathews County School Board adopted its final 2017-2018 budget during Tuesday night’s monthly meeting, which was held in the Mathews High School media center.

County supervisors did provide a modest increase ($48,316) from its current contribution of $7.45 million, but well short of the $8.13 million sought by the school board earlier this year.

Cut from the budget was a 1 percent, plus step, salary increase for all school employees, additional internet bandwidth for the division, a new elementary teacher position, a media specialist position at Thomas Hunter Middle School, as well as any other new positions.

The additional county money will help offset some of the costs of increased Virginia Retirement System and health insurance payments. The budget was also adjusted to account for employees high on the salary scale retiring to be replaced by newer employees.

School board members unanimously approved t...