Harris County board approves June financials and purchases; tax collections at 99% of budgeted receipts

The Harris County Board of Education on July 17 approved the district's major purchases report for June, the June financial report and the school nutrition report. Board members discussed several items during the consent agenda votes. Dr. Finney said the district's ending fund balance for the current period is approximately the same as it was in the same month last year and that property-tax collections stood at about 99% of the budgeted amount. “That's about $400,000 and some change in difference that we'll get with the tax commissioner, to see exactly what that consists of and get those two numbers reconciled,” Dr. Finney said. Board members and staff also discussed ongoing capital and procurement items reported in the purchases report: the track replacement project is in process and on schedule, and the district has made approximately 80% of the payment on a new fixed digital scoreboard; the final payment will be made after completion of the work, staff said. Open purchase orders that remain in progress will roll into fiscal year 2026, staff explained. Trustees asked whether remaining SPLOST-related (special purpose local option sales tax) payments are expected; staff said some SPLOST 6 items are still open and that the district will reconcile outstanding orders and expenditures. On the school nutrition report, staff noted June is an atypical month because schools are not in full session and the district receives federal grant funding that supports summer feeding programs. Dr. Finney said that federal summer grants produced a large revenue entry for June; the school nutrition fund still shows an ending balance of roughly $735,000 after capital equipment purchases and upgrades to cafeteria kitchens. Board members moved and seconded the three consent items individually: the major purchases report (motion by Mr. Johnson), the financial report (motion by Mr. Johnston, seconded by Mr. Proctor) and the school nutrition report (motion by Mr. Green, seconded by Mr. Proctor). All three motions were approved by voice vote in open session. No additional budget amendments or formal contract awards were recorded in the public discussion captured by the transcript. The board directed staff to reconcile the tax-collection variance with the tax commissioner and to continue monitoring maintenance-and-operations expenditures and school nutrition participation over the fall.