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Cullman County Schools holds first FY2026 budget hearing; ADM drop trims state units
Summary
At a public hearing, district staff outlined the FY2026 budget, reporting a 4.8% decline in ADM that reduced state unit allocations, detailed revenue sources and planned capital spending, and noted a recently awarded $18 million grant to accelerate a new career center.
Speaker 4, the district—s budget presenter (role not specified), opened the first of two required public hearings on the FY2026 budget and reviewed funding sources, program allocations and planned capital projects.
Speaker 4 said the district—s average daily membership fell about 4.8% compared with the prior year, which translated to about a 3.6‑unit loss in state funding units. "When you only have five students down in ADM, our units are not down 3.6," she said, explaining the drop pushed some schools below staffing thresholds and reduced assistant principal and counselor allocations.
The presenter summarized revenue by source, saying roughly 62% of general‑fund dollars come from the state, about 10% from federal sources and roughly 28% from local revenue. She said the district set the half‑cent sales tax estimate at $6,100,000 and described its distribution—60% for instruction and technology, 20% to schools and 20% for facilities.
On transportation and fleet renewal, the presenter noted the state provides $7,581 per bus for 10 years toward fleet renewal but that a new bus costs roughly $150,000–$160,000, meaning state payments cover only a fraction of replacement costs. To address the gap, she said the district plans to use some A&T funds this year to purchase buses and preserve fleet renewal dollars for future debt service.
Speaker 4 attributed the majority of the year‑to‑year increase in the general fund (about two‑thirds of the increase) to state revenue tied to the RAISE Act, which consolidated funding streams such as ELL, gifted and at‑risk into a single program and added targeted positions (math coaches, ARI reading specialists and additional pre‑K classrooms). She listed program changes and approximate dollar impacts, including additional at‑risk funding and increases for ELL and special‑education pre‑K.
The presentation listed supplemental appropriations (including a technology investment of about $10.6 million that the district has already received but expects to spend mostly next fiscal year) and detailed use of A&T funds for deferred maintenance, insurance, transportation and school safety. Speaker 4 said the capital projects fund began the year with roughly $20 million (including an $18 million grant reflected in the capital spreadsheets), plans to spend about $11.3 million this year and projects an ending capital fund balance near $11.3 million.
On operating figures, the presenter said the general fund budget is about $116,000,000 (up roughly $7 million), total budget revenues are about $140,000,000 and projected ending general‑fund reserves are roughly $36.3 million (about 3.3 months or 100 days). She said proposed general‑fund expenditures exceed revenues by roughly $13,000,000 because supplemental funds are included in the budget.
Speaker 3 (role not specified), during the Superintendent—s report, announced the district had been awarded an $18,000,000 grant intended to help expedite construction of a new career center: "we got a $18,000,000 grant, that's gonna help expedite the process of building a new career center," the speaker said.
The presenter closed by inviting questions and said a second public hearing will be held before the board considers final adoption. No formal budget vote took place at this session; the presentation was informational and opened the public record for the upcoming adoption process.
The board scheduled the next regular meeting/work session for Sept. 11, 2025, and adjourned after routine business.
