Pickens County School Board members approved several fiscal measures after a financial update from Chief Financial Officer Amy Smith, who told the board the district has collected roughly 88.16% of budgeted revenue through May and expended about 75.31% of budgeted expenditures for fiscal year 2025.

Smith said the district still expects to collect additional property‑tax revenue through the summer months and anticipates coming close to or surpassing 100% of budgeted revenue when accruals and supplemental July/August collections post. She projected a likely year‑end general‑fund balance near $12 million and described the district’s general fund and special revenue fund positions as “in an excellent place.” She also reported receiving $11,241,957.98 in GSFIC funds for phases 1 and 2 of Pickens High School renovations and that the district sold surplus assets totaling about $25,000.

Smith said the audit closeout is underway with the Georgia Department of Audits and Accounts and that the district had no findings; she noted the county had not seen an audit finding since 2009. The board was reminded that the FY26 budget process is ongoing and public hearings will follow.

After the report the board voted to approve several items on the agenda: the personnel action report; final approval of FY26 salary schedules; a FY25 budget amendment (which board members characterized as category transfers, not an overage); and a FY26 spending resolution that authorizes the district to spend up to one‑twelfth of the previous year’s budgeted expenditures beginning July 1 until a tentative budget is adopted. The spending resolution is required by state law to permit July expenditures when the next year's tentative budget is not yet approved.

Board members approved the consent agenda, which included financial reports and multiple memoranda of understanding with local universities and service providers.

Ending: The board set public budget‑hearing dates during July and will return to finalize the FY26 tentative budget in the coming weeks.