Macon County officials warn $1.98 million local operating gap as school capital projects proceed

Macon County commissioners and the Macon County Board of Education held a joint work session to review school construction updates and local operating finances, where school officials said the district faces a $1,980,225.68 shortfall in its local current expense budget and described a range of short‑ and long‑term options for closing the gap.

The district’s local current expense budget totals $12,672,245.68, school presenters said, and the county’s current contribution to that amount is $10,692,020, leaving a local shortfall of $1,980,225.68. “This shortfall represents real operational pressure,” said Laney, a school finance presenter, adding that the request includes projected state‑mandated salary increases the district built into the plan: a 4% raise for certified staff and a 3% raise for classified staff, plus a 5% budget increase for utilities.

The presentation and ensuing discussion threaded together several issues: the district’s use of federal ESSER funding during and after the pandemic, the size and recent use of the school fund balance, outstanding debt service tied to school capital, and possible local revenue options such as a quarter‑cent local option sales tax.

On federal relief and staffing, school leaders said the district created about 23 positions using ESSER funds during the pandemic; all but one of those positions have been moved off ESSER funding or ended, they said. The district had placed one mental‑health provider at each school (11 positions); presenters said only one mental‑health position remains fully supported by a federal grant. The district reported it has not laid off staff and has preserved core classroom positions, but has left about five positions unfilled this year as a cost reduction measure.

Members of…