Moore County Schools presents revised superintendent budget, projects $3.7M fund-balance draw for FY25-26
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Summary
Superintendent Dr. Locklear presented a revised FY25-26 operating budget that incorporates estimated fixed-cost increases, a proposed unfrozen curriculum specialist position and $570,000 in identified efficiencies; the district projects using about $3.69 million of fund balance to balance the budget under a conservative 2% state salary scenario.
Dr. Locklear, Moore County Schools superintendent, presented a revised superintendent's proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2025–26 at the March 3 work session, asking the board to consider posting the document for the board vote next week to become the district's preliminary budget.
The draft budget estimates fixed-cost increases — including a conservative 2% state salary scenario, retirement and health insurance changes — totaling about $830,000. The proposal also includes a local supplement step increase for certified staff of $250,000, a 5% inflation estimate on nonpayroll items totaling $350,000 and projected charter-school growth costs of $240,000. District budget staff reported $570,000 in identified efficiencies that can be redeployed into operations.
"Our budget is meant to support that work and support the ultimate success of our students," Dr. Locklear said, framing the proposal around the district's vision and strategic goals. He recommended unfreezing one previously frozen curriculum specialist position, an expansion item estimated at $90,000.
Finance staff reported local revenue assumptions that use the county's communicated 3% growth number, producing an incremental local allotment of $1,146,138 under the local funding formula. Combining projected revenues, fixed costs, identified efficiencies and the expansion item, the district team calculated a FY25–26 projected fund-balance appropriation of $3,685,000 under the 2% salary growth scenario.
Budget details presented to the board included: state public school funds of $102,133,443 (an increase of $1,721,909), local current fund of $41,704,475, federal programs at $16,793,301 (increase $183,288), and a total amended budget for FY24–25 now at $188,679,081 (an increase of $2,186,945) for the current year. The projected unassigned fund balance for 06/30/2025 was reported as $2,020,375 after assignments; projected fund balance for 06/30/2025 with carryover was $6,984,006.45.
Board members pressed for additional clarifications on revenue assumptions, county tax-rate history and the district's fund-balance floor. One board member asked staff to analyze whether the system should raise its fund-balance floor to provide a larger cushion given continued uncertainty about state and county actions.
Miss Edmonds, presenting revenue and projections, told the board that the county allotment used in the draft assumes removal of pass-through items (capital outlay and a $50,000 DHHS pass-through) and applies the 3% increase the county communicated. She also walked the board through a projected charter-school per pupil cost and acreage questions raised by the capital planning committee.
Next steps: the budget committee meets again Thursday for additional review; the board is scheduled to vote on a preliminary budget the following Monday. The district will present to county commissioners on May 6; the county is expected to adopt its budget in June. The district plans to return a version of the original budget in October that incorporates final state allocations when available.
Votes, formal actions and final adoption were not taken at the March 3 work session; staff described the draft as a recommendation that the board consider and finalize at upcoming meetings.
