Gaston County Board approves 80% interim budget to bridge state funding gap

The Gaston County Board of Education on June 16 approved an interim 2025–26 budget set at 80% of the 2024–25 budget to carry the district through the start of the fiscal year while the state budget remains pending.

Superintendent Dr. Chris Houchard told the board the interim measure is required by state law and is intended to “have appropriations to pay salaries, to pay supplies and expenses, to get us through the beginning of school, through summer, and get us into the time when the state actually approves the final budget resolution.” He said the interim budget “will be the equivalent of 80% of our current budget at this point.”

The board moved and seconded the measure and approved it in a roll call. The transcript records that two members opposed the interim budget; the names of the two opposing members were not specified during the vote on the public record. The superintendent noted that a final state budget was not in place and was anticipated “maybe around September.”

Why it matters: North Carolina school districts must have an approved budget by June 30 to continue operations; adopting an interim appropriation allows schools to pay staff and operate on a temporary basis until the legislature finalizes state funding. The interim approach preserves payroll and supply payments but can constrain new spending until the final state appropriation is known.

Discussion and next steps: Board members asked no follow-up questions for district finance staff during the public portion of the meeting. The interim appropriation will remain in effect until the district adopts a final 2025–26 budget after the state enacts a budget resolution.