Columbia County schools report 5.36% unassigned fund balance, tax collections up slightly

District finance staff delivered the monthly financial report for December 2024, reporting an unassigned fund balance of 5.36% and several favorable revenue and expense trends.

The presenter, identified in the meeting as Miss Laxton, said $896,000 of the unassigned balance has been earmarked to cover staffing costs for the remainder of the fiscal year. “As you guys can see, right now, unassigned as of December 2024 was at 5.36%,” Laxton said. She told the board the district had already earmarked $896,000 to cover staffing and related nonunion salary raises.

Laxton reported tax collections of 61.42% of the expected total as of the reporting date, compared with 60.83% at the same point in the prior year. She said the district collected $7,470,000 from the half-cent sales tax for the 2024 calendar year and stated the district’s portion as $6,908,000 (as reported in the meeting record). Laxton also reported that electricity costs were favorable by 8% and diesel costs favorable by about 20% for the period covered.

The board had no questions that led to further action in the meeting excerpt; Laxton concluded her presentation and the board proceeded to routine agenda business.