Halifax County approves FY25–26 school allotments using updated ADM figures

The Halifax County Board of Commissioners voted unanimously to approve fiscal year 202526 local education agency (LEA) allotments after a presentation from Deputy County Manager Christina Wells.

Wells told the board staff used the fiscal year 2024/25 "best of two" average daily membership (ADM) figures dated Dec. 30, 2024, and included charter-school enrollments when calculating current (operating) expense allotments but excluded charter enrollments from capital outlay allocations because capital outlay is for assets located on LEA campuses.

Wells said the recommended distribution applies three sources to the current expense pool: a direct appropriation of $5,400,000, an estimated $230,000 from ABC profits and an estimated $200,000 from fines and forfeitures. Those pots are prorated to each LEA based on the ADM totals (including charter-student counts) to compute each district alloca tions. For capital outlay (items physically located on school campuses), staff recommended using campus-only ADM and a separate capital allocation of $747,540; charter enrollments were not included in that calculation.

Wells also described Article 44 funds (additional local sales tax distributions to local governments) that the board has historically directed for education. Staff presented an Article 44 total allotted to local education and Halifax Community College and recommended dividing that amount equally among the three LEAs and the community college for FY25/26; staff showed the math for equal shares and for ADM-based allocations.

After questions, Vice Chair Davis moved to approve the LEA allotments as presented; Commissioner Webb seconded the motion. The board voted aye and approved the FY25 allocations.

Why it matters: the county allocates operating and capital dollars annually to the three local school systems and Halifax Community College; the methodology (inclusion of charter counts for operating funds but not for capital) affects each system share of county support.

The board approved the allotment package at the meeting and did not amend the staff recommendation.

Ending note: staff documentation attached to the agenda shows the ADM breakdowns used for the calculations and a five-year per-capita history that staff said yields a modest increase in per-student current expense for FY25/26; staff also noted the county includes ABC profits and fines/forfeitures in the current-expense per-student calculation.