Halifax County Public Schools presents year-end budget, seeks carryover for staff raises and security

The Halifax County Public Schools board reviewed year-end budget figures and approved a budget package that relies on carryover to cover shortfalls in state-funded positions and to fund security and longevity payments.

Doctor Buckley and a presenter for the district told the board the general fund figures include $69,859,010 against a $70,784,759 budget and cautioned auditors’ accruals could change the final carryover. The presenter said $500,000 was designated for certain preventative maintenance and that capital improvement priorities would be addressed through a strategic plan.

Why it matters: board members said the state’s Standards of Quality (SOQ) formula provides a 3% figure for some positions but leaves a funding gap for others. The presenter said roughly one-third of staff historically are SOQ-funded and the division must find the remainder locally. Board members expressed frustration that some county supervisors had voted against providing additional local funding for the bare minimum requested.

Details: the district reported asking to use carryover to support teacher salaries, a longevity bonus and security staff. The presenter said the district requested $1,000,000 for security, $600,000 to support positions tied to the governor’s 3% figure, and $90,485 for a longevity bonus described in the discussion as an unfunded mandate. A board member cautioned that auditors’ adjustments and previously excluded design fees could change totals.

Board action and next steps: a motion to approve the budget was made during the meeting and a presenter later stated the budget "did pass" after discussion. The board asked that more detailed line items and any revised capital improvement plan be returned in a subsequent meeting; the presenter said a draft plan would not be widely shared until it was approved by the board and would be brought back with changes in July.

Quotes: "So please don't get too excited when you're looking at the numbers," the presenter said, noting auditors will finalize accruals. On funding gaps, a board member said, "We've got people voting against the bare minimum," and urged local leaders to consider the long-term effects on staff recruitment and retention.

What’s next: the board requested additional detail on the carryover calculation, confirmation of which costs (design, permits, fees) are included in published project totals, and a finalized capital improvement plan to be presented once it is ready for release.