Board hears budget update as tax digest delay leaves millage and revenues uncertain

Finance staff presented a revised general-fund budget forecast June 4 to the Board of Public Education and told members the district’s revenue projections remain uncertain because the Chatham County tax digest and final state and federal figures have not yet been received.

Paige Cooley, a finance staff member, told the board the district originally projected 10% local growth in Chatham County but has been told informally that growth will be about 7.05 percent; she said the assessor’s office emailed that information but has not yet provided formal documentation. Cooley also said the state projection supplied earlier remains unchanged and that federal amounts remain uncertain.

The revised general-fund revenues shown on the slide deck are $657,500,000 and general-fund expenditures $659,500,000, leaving increased reliance on a use of fund balance estimated at $1,900,000. Cooley said the district has adjusted several line items in response: reducing the…