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Madison County School Board approves FY26 budget addendum, cuts about $8 million in capital outlay
Summary
The Madison County School Board approved a FY26 budget addendum that removes roughly $8 million in capital outlay — including a $4 million placeholder tied to federal ESSER funds and about $3 million for interior work at Omen Arena — reducing the district's projected draw on fund balance to roughly $12 million.
The Madison County School Board approved a fiscal-year 2026 budget addendum at its meeting after trustees removed roughly $8 million in capital outlay items from the district's proposed spending, Board member Jason Compton said.
The change trims a $4 million placeholder the board had set aside in case federal ESSER funds are not received and cuts about $3 million in planned interior improvements at Omen Arena, Compton said. The revision reduces the district's projected draw on its fund balance to about $12 million, which Compton said will leave the district with just under $30 million in fund balance.
Why this matters: the cuts limit the immediate use of fund balance while preserving flexibility to restore projects later. Compton said that if the district receives expected revenues next year, items removed from this year's capital list can be placed back into the budget by future amendment.
Compton, a board member, explained the change while presenting the addendum and described last-minute corrections made after the county's finance office sent an erroneous spreadsheet. "When you think you're done with the budget, you are, in fact, not done with the budget," Compton said, describing staff's work to reconcile the figures.
The cuts included school-level capital items listed as red-line deletions: flooring at Lane, Arlington and Rose Hill; intercom replacements; a concession stand and parking-lot repairs at Northside; work on the JCT stage; and gym lighting at Arlington and Alexander. Roof projects remained in the budget, Compton said. He identified the total reduction as about $8 million: the $4 million ESSER placeholder plus other capital items, with approximately $3 million tied specifically to Omen Arena work.
Board members also noted a related county action: the Madison County Commission Budget Committee approved adding $700,000 to the county's FY26 budget for the East Drive parking project. Compton said the board is including that county allocation in the district budget so the district can proceed with the project.
Board member Andre Dornell asked whether pre-K transportation was cut during the revisions; Dr. Watkins responded, "It is not." That clarification was recorded during the vote discussion.
The board voted on a motion by Compton to approve the budget addendum and returned the amended budget to the county. The motion carried on a voice vote. The board and staff said the removed items can be reconsidered in future budget amendments when revenues are clearer.
