Henderson County school board approves budget request, seeks extra funds to avoid deep draw on reserves

The Henderson County Board of Public Education voted May to send a continuation-style budget request to county commissioners that uses part of the district’s fund balance and asks the county for additional current-expense funding to limit cuts to personnel and programs.

Superintendent Garrett and staff told the board the county appropriation for next year, as discussed at the meeting, left the district with a projected shortfall if current services are to continue. Staff calculated scenarios that ranged from maintaining a 12% fund-balance target to lowering the target to 10% and using additional fund balance to reduce the request to the county.

The board emphasized three drivers that shape the request: projected state-imposed salary and benefits increases for next fiscal year, rising non-labor costs, and the desire to hold program and staffing levels steady. The administration recommended planning for at least a 2–3% salary increase in state action; board discussion centered on using a 3% salary assumption and lowering the fund-balance goal from 12% to 10% to reduce near-term pressure on schools.

With that approach, the administration said it would supplement local revenue with roughly $700,000 of additional county support to avoid drawing more than the board’s chosen fund-balance cushion. Board members also asked staff to return the exact dollar totals and finalized language before the district’s formal transmittal to commissioners.

Board members stressed that the plan is intended to be a “maintenance” or continuation request rather than an expansion budget. Several trustees said they wanted the county ask to be as clear as possible about what the funds will cover, and asked staff to email the precise numbers used to compute the request before it is sent.

The board voted to approve the proposed request and forward it to county commissioners for consideration.