Caldwell County Schools board approves multiple budget amendments, adopts interim 2025-26 budget

The Caldwell County Schools Board of Education approved six budget amendments and adopted an interim 2025-26 budget during its June 24 budget work session.

Assistant Superintendent and CFO David Johnson presented the amendments, saying they reallocate allotments to match actual expenditures and recognize new revenues. “$158,530,815.88,” Johnson read as the district’s total budget after the changes.

The amendments covered several funds: amendment 13 for the current expense fund (Johnson said it included recognition of payables for July and August and noted an increase of $761,000), amendment 14 for the federal grant fund (about $8,000), amendment 15 for the capital outlay fund (approximately $3,178,508, much of which Johnson said represents expenses paid by other entities such as lease payments for school buses), amendment 16 for the child nutrition fund ($500,000 anticipated from USDA), and amendment 17 for the special grant fund to align expenditures with actuals. Johnson told the board the total adjusted budget for the year is $158,530,815.88.

Board members approved the package of budget amendments (items 12–17) by voice vote. Johnson also told the board the district would use some fund balance this year but said the exact amount was not specified; the board had budgeted about $3.6 million in fund balance but expects to use less.

On the interim budget, Johnson cited North Carolina General Statute 115C-434, which he said requires adoption of an interim budget when the budget is delayed past July 1. The board approved a 2025-26 interim budget to permit payment of salaries and necessary expenses; Johnson said the interim budget would not exceed the appropriations in the 2024-25 budget.

No roll-call vote totals were recorded in the meeting minutes; the motions passed by voice vote.