Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Finance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Carroll County finance report: fund-balance context and FY26 budget planning with possible 22 new positions
Summary
Chief finance staff reviewed December fund balance, SPLOST collections and FY26 planning assumptions including a proposed 1% raise, enrollment-driven positions (22), and a recommendation to reduce one-time expenditures by $3 million.
At the Feb. 10 work session Mr. Scott Coward presented the district’s financial picture, offering an explanation of fund-balance seasonality, SPLOST collections, and initial planning assumptions for the FY26 budget.
Coward told the board that general-fund revenues for the current month were about $27.5 million and expenditures were about $19 million; he said the district’s fund balance in December was approximately $54.8 million (a cyclical high driven by property-tax collections). Coward explained that fund balance typically drops to its low point in October and cited a June-to-June benchmark: the district’s June fund balance last year was roughly $28.5 million. He also provided statewide context, saying Georgia state government had about 4.7 months of cash on hand and that the average Georgia school district had about 3.8 months, while Carroll County’s June figure was 1.8 months.
On SPLOST (local sales tax for capital projects) Coward said recent collections were strong, with SPLOST 6 revenue of about $1.9 million last month and a year-over-year increase compared with FY23 collections. Coward said the district expects those SPLOST funds to fund Central Middle School, Mount Zion Middle School and planned bus purchases.
For FY26 planning, staff outlined preliminary assumptions: the state has signaled increases to certified and classified health insurance costs; staff work currently assumes a 1% across-the-board raise as a starting point (the board may change that); and district enrollment growth could require the addition of approximately 22 positions (12 classroom teachers, one counselor, one PALS facilitator, one Assistant Principal at Temple Middle School and seven paraprofessionals). Coward and staff also proposed a $3 million reduction in one-time expenditures to mitigate increased recurring costs such as higher insurance and potential raises.
Coward stressed that state funding numbers were not final and assumptions will be updated when the district receives formal state guidance. He asked the board to expect continuing refinement of the FY26 budget and said staff will return with more detailed recommendations.
