Morgan County Schools staff presents $114 million proposed budget; no vote taken
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Summary
District staff presented a proposed $114,043,251.23 budget to the Morgan County Schools board, outlined revenue increases tied largely to state funding, a planned capital program and a projected general fund balance; the board did not act on the budget and will consider approval at a later meeting.
Mr. Hagood, a Morgan County Schools staff member, presented the district’s proposed budget to the board and said, “The total budget for us this year is a $114,043,251.23.”
The presentation, given during a regular board meeting, described sources of revenue, a breakdown of expenditures and a capital plan. Hagood told the board the district projects higher state funding compared with the prior year, and that the proposed budget shows the general fund expenditures exceeding general fund revenues in the current year.
The staff member said the proposed budget includes a capital plan and one-time capital spending that the district intends to fund from existing fund balance. He said the budget shows planned capital expenditures of $23,466,419 and that district leadership had budgeted more than $9 million in state funds received last year to be spent this fiscal year. Hagood said those prior-year state funds account for roughly half of the deficit between proposed expenditures and revenues, which he identified as $21,309,352.
Hagood provided staffing figures and state reporting context. He said, “We have a total of 1,047 employees,” and explained that that figure excludes substitute teachers and contracted staff. He described how average daily membership (ADM) and state allocation rules influence revenue and said the state adjusts funding for growth during the year.
The presenter walked the board through required state budget forms (the P-1 and the P-2 packages) and demonstrated how personnel services, employee benefits and purchase services are shown by cost center. He noted that detailed cost-center-level information is available in the budget book supplied to board members and that the proposed budget’s general fund balance is intended to support one-time capital projects while the district maintains a targeted operating reserve.
Hagood said staff expected minor federal funding adjustments to the proposed budget and planned to make those technical updates before the board’s next meeting. He specifically referenced Title II, Title III and Title IV federal allocations, and said the adjustments would be “not significant” and likely total less than $500,000.
No formal vote was taken on the proposed budget during the meeting. The board took two procedural votes unrelated to the budget: adoption of the meeting agenda, which passed unanimously, and a motion to adjourn at the end of the meeting, which also passed.
The district’s staff plans to return to the board at a subsequent meeting with the formal budget resolution and any minor adjustments for approval.
