Board hears budget update as finance committee recommends $467,000 in cuts and four FTE reductions

The Foley Public School District received a detailed March 31 budget update and enrollment report and heard a finance‑committee recommendation for preliminary budget reductions. Ryan Tedders, representing the finance committee, said, “It was decided that the district should remove $467,000 out of next year’s budget,” and that the proposed reductions equate to about four full‑time‑equivalent (FTE) positions. He characterized this action as a preliminary step; he said personnel specifics will be discussed at the May 4 meeting.

Business manager Mr. Cooper presented enrollment and budget figures. Mr. Cooper reported total adjusted enrollment of 1,802.46 points, with elementary enrollment at 522, intermediate at 771 and high school at 559. For the general fund he reported year‑to‑date revenues of about $16,600,000 (approximately 62.5% of expected), state aid receipts of roughly $14,400,000 (about 65.1% of expected), federal receipts near $169,000, and property tax receipts around $1,400,000. He said year‑to‑date expenditures were approximately $17,600,000 (about 67.2%), with salaries and wages reported near $9,400,000 and benefits at about $3,700,000.

Board members asked when affected staff would be notified. Mr. Tedders said this meeting was the preliminary approval and that the May 4 special meeting would identify specific positions and timing. Board members and staff also discussed fund accounting limits and whether enterprise or program revenue could be used to offset general‑fund cuts; staff said some funds are restricted and transfers have occurred in other districts, but no firm offsets were promised during the meeting.

The board scheduled further budget staffing discussion for May 4; no final personnel actions were taken at this meeting.