Board told child nutrition funds could run three months as audit awaits county numbers
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Summary
Finance staff told the Hoke County Schools board the annual audit is near completion pending county figures and warned that federal child nutrition reimbursements paused in November amid a federal shutdown; the district’s child nutrition fund balance can sustain operations for about three months while awaiting federal action.
Finance staff told the Hoke County Schools board on Nov. 8 that the district’s fiscal audit is nearly complete but remains open pending numbers from the county finance office. The presenter asked that the board allow time for the county figures so the audit can close.
The finance presenter also warned that, because of a federal government shutdown, federal child nutrition reimbursements stopped in November. The presenter said the child nutrition department currently has a fund balance sufficient to operate for about three months while the district awaits federal action.
"We do know that they do have enough fund balance to run for three months," the presenter said. "Right now, we're not really fully concerned. We're hoping the federal government is gonna do what this will do to make sure our children get fed."
Why it matters: Child nutrition funding supports school meals for students; an interruption in federal reimbursements can affect how the district budgets and may require short-term adjustments if federal funding is not restored.
What the board did: The presenter reported the circumstances and said the district would continue to monitor the situation and lobby for a federal resolution that restores reimbursements. Board members did not vote on a new appropriation at the Nov. 8 meeting.
What was not decided: No changes to meal service or staffing were announced; the district did not request an emergency appropriation during the meeting.
