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McDowell board tables county budget request after allotment changes leave $2.1M shortfall
Summary
Superintendent and finance staff recommended delaying a formal county funding request after the state's low-wealth allotment dropped by about $976,000; trustees voted unanimously to table the request pending joint talks with county officials.
The McDowell County Schools Board voted unanimously to table its formal county budget request after district finance staff reported a steep change in state low-wealth funding that widened an already projected deficit.
Miss Rampey, the district finance leader, reviewed planning allotments and told trustees the updated low-wealth allotment reduced the district’s expected revenue by about $976,000. She said earlier budget assumptions — including a projected 3% salary increase and a projected 93-student drop in average daily membership — produced an initial $1.2 million shortfall; with the new low-wealth reduction the shortfall rose to roughly $2.1 million under the draft assumptions. Miss Rampey told the board, “I think holding off for just a few minutes, you know, until we have an opportunity to speak to the county commissioners a little bit more, might be a better might be a better plan.”
Why it matters: The board had been preparing a county request that assumed roughly a 3% local increase; with the allotment change the district said it would need to use more of its fund balance or reduce positions to balance the budget.
Board action: Finance Committee Chair Mark Shuford moved to table the budget request; Paul Baker seconded. The board voted unanimously to postpone action and scheduled meetings between district leaders and county officials, including the chairs and vice chairs of both boards and the county manager, before returning with a revised recommendation.
Budget context and clarifying numbers: In the presentation the finance staff reported receiving $10,200,000 from the county this year, a 2.89% increase from the prior year. The district’s draft planning assumptions included a projected loss of about 93 students (ADM) and budgeting for a 3% salary increase and a 5% increase for benefits. Under those assumptions and the updated low-wealth allotment, the district estimated needing to draw roughly $867,000 from fund balance after $1,000,000 in proposed cost reductions (10 positions plus other savings). Officials told the board those projections would be revised after further county discussions and pending the state budget outcome.
Ending: The board’s unanimous vote to table gives district staff time to consult the county and review final state budget actions before returning to the full board with a formal request.
