Hickman County schools project deficit and outline pay-rise options as state mandates raise costs

Hickman County Board of Education officials told the board at its April meeting that the district expects to draw down reserves next year to meet a state-mandated $50,000 starting salary for certified teachers and to raise pay for support staff and substitutes.

District staff presented updated revenue and expenditure projections and asked the board to schedule a budget-only work session to nail down specifics before the board must submit a proposed budget to the county legislative body. The board set a budget work session for Wednesday, April 30, 5:30 p.m., at the board office.

Administrators said recent events and state policy increases have pushed projected expenditures higher. The district reported projected expenditures of about $34.2 million and projected revenues roughly $600,000 above previous estimates; the result is a planned use of about $1.5 million from reserves next year. Officials said that is an improvement from a previously modeled…