Randolph County Schools board warned of multimillion‑dollar budget gap; reinstates personnel to avoid grievances

Randolph County Schools officials told the board at a special meeting that the district does not have a balanced general fund and faces a multi‑million dollar shortfall, and the board voted 5‑0 to reinstate a slate of personnel to correct prior transfer decisions and avoid legal grievances.

Brad Smith, the district official who presented the budget workbook, told the board: "at this point, we do not have a balanced budget," and walked trustees through revenue and expense lines, including a $5,100,000 carryover from the previous year and previously used carryover of roughly $2.8 million. He said, after conservative adjustments, "I'm still $466,000 short." Those figures reflect the district’s current view of state funding, federal grants and anticipated local receipts.

Why it matters: trustees must adopt a balanced budget by the state deadline. Smith warned that timing and reductions in federal and state grant lines — including possible declines in Title I/II/IV allocations and uncertainties in Medicaid reimbursements — increase cash‑flow risk and may push receipts into the next fiscal year, making it harder to meet payroll and vendor obligations on time.

Smith told the board that several revenue items are unsettled: special education and Title grant totals were not finalized, the Secure Rural Schools Act reauthorization remains uncertain (a reauthorization would bring more funds), and bank interest…