City of York Council is aiming to meet most of a £1.9m in gap in government funding for the city's education service - but may ask schools to contribute £430,000.

In a proposed £83m 2003/2004 education budget - an increase of £7.5m on the current level - officers are suggesting £600,000 for new services and investment but with savings needed to pay for them.

But, with the government's contribution to York's education service falling £1.9m short of the expected annual settlement, officers are proposing £745,000 of savings; asking for a general council contribution of £670,000 and for schools to meet the difference through efficiency measures. There are 70 schools in York and the money works out at about £5,000 per primary schools and £15,000 for each secondary school.

Councillor Janet Looker, City of York Council's executive member for education, and the council's Education Advisory Panel are being asked to back the strategy at meetings on Thursday of next week (January 16).

The budget proposals include:

£150,000 extra for supporting special educational needs students including helping their inclusion into mainstream schools £190,000 to meet increased school transport costs £117,000 to fund the increasing demand for early years education as a result of the council's successful 'shared foundation' initiative £12,000 to kickstart a major sport-in-schools initiative with Sport England - worth some £300,000 over three years £70,000 to help develop plans for two new special schools Meanwhile the £745,000 worth of savings proposed include the council trimming historically under-spent budgets and taking advantage of decreases in demand in some service areas and savings in central support services.

Councillors are also being asked to look at ending discretionary awards a year ahead of new government Education Maintenance Allowances to save £42,000; making small savings on staff budgets and efficiency gains through measures such as Best Value; and saving £107,000 on improved management of the school transport service. Some £125,000 could also be saved by withdrawing match-funding to government grants for summer schools and capping numbers on the schools' advanced skills teacher programme. Schools in York were told last month (December) that the government funding for York schools would increase by only 4.3 per cent compared to six per cent nationally. Councillor Janet Looker said, "In a situation where the government's funding does not even meet all the costs of price and wage inflation and new duties on schools and the education service - such as picking up the increase in the standards fund - officers have been working hard to come up with a workable budget for York's schools.

"We are absolutely committed to increasing the amount of money passed onto schools beyond the government's allocation but, with the backing of the school's forum, we are also asking schools to look for savings themselves to help us maintain and increase investment in our children's education." Councillor Looker said officers had tried to look for genuine budget savings rather than reducing services. "The fact that we are not being asked to contribute to the £2.5m of council-wide savings and are hoping for more than £600,000 from central council funds underlines the commitment this council has to the city's schools." Councillor Looker stressed that exciting plans for continuing the council's investment in the fabric of city schools - including three new primary schools, an ongoing repairs programme and two new special needs schools - were still on course in the separate, capital budget. The council is currently continuing its consultation process over the new budget. The consultation features a survey of residents on the council's 'people's panel', meetings with representatives of the business community and the city's 'Without Walls' local strategic partnership. Most local ward committee meetings are also being held this month where budget issues will be listed for discussion. ENDS