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Board approves budget amendments; teachers received smaller net bonuses after deductions, finance staff say
Summary
Board approved August budget amendments and received a finance update explaining that state teacher bonus amounts were reduced by retirement and tax withholding; the meeting included a report of FEMA reimbursements and open PO tracking.
The Franklin County Board of Education approved budget amendments that reallocated grant and operating funds and heard a finance briefing explaining recent reimbursements and the net amounts teachers received from a state bonus program.
Finance staff told the board that some COVID‑related health expenses were reimbursed through FEMA and that the district recorded the revenue for health‑related expenses dating back to prior years. They also provided an open purchase‑order report the board requested to help assess whether available operating funds could be reprioritized for athletics and other needs.
On teacher bonuses, finance staff (Jenny) explained why net checks were smaller than some employees expected. She said the bonuses ranged in net pay from $1,602.87 to $1,747 after employee‑side deductions, noting that employees were responsible for required retirement contributions and income tax withholding: “Paperwork that was sent out very specifically said the employee is responsible for their own liabilities,” she said. She explained an example that a $100 retirement contribution and federal withholding reduced the headline amount on pay stubs.
Nut graf: The board approved the August 2025 budget amendment and received a finance update that clarified the source of reimbursements, the existence of open purchase orders and why the net teacher bonus payments were lower than some employees expected.
A motion by Mr. Williams to approve the August budget amendment passed; the board later moved to receive and file finance materials and to approve the annual board agenda for 2025–26.
Ending: Board members asked staff to continue monthly reporting of open purchase orders and to coordinate budget prioritization discussions with athletic and school leaders.
