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Board hears March financials; SPLOST 6 projected to end Dec. 31 and state budget timing clouds next year’s numbers
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Summary
The district reported $281 million starting cash and $263 million ending cash for March, discussed SPLOST 6 balances and timing for SPLOST 7, and flagged uncertainty from an unsigned state budget and Senate Bill 33 delaying tax digest information used for next year’s budget.
Finance director Larry Hammel provided a detailed March 2026 financial update to the board, including cash balances, revenue collections and SPLOST and capital‑project positions.
Hammel reported beginning cash of about $281,000,000 and an ending cash position of about $263,000,000 for March and said the district had collected approximately $47,000,000 in revenue during the period. He noted the district is roughly tracking to end the fiscal year near 99% of budgeted spend. On capital projects and special funds, he reported lower SPLOST 6 balances compared with the prior year and current capital‑project cash around $11.5 million.
On SPLOST timing, Hammel said the district received communication from the Georgia Department of Revenue acknowledging that SPLOST 6 is approaching its planned end and that SPLOST 7 would follow automatically when SPLOST 6 ends; he said the district expects SPLOST 6 to end on Dec. 31. Board members pressed on collections timing, and Hammel said some late‑collected tax dollars may post in late summer or early fall and could fall in the next fiscal year’s budget under accounting rules.
Hammel also described constraints on the district’s budget calendar: the governor had not signed the state budget at the time of the meeting, QBE (Quality Basic Education) numbers had not been released, and counties were withholding tax‑digest information pending legal clarity about Senate Bill 33, which he said was delaying release of data used for district budgeting. Hammel said staff are running conservative scenarios and preparing contingency plans, including potential continuing resolutions, and will adjust the calendar for budget work if needed.
Board members asked about whether recent authorized employee bonuses were reflected in March figures (Hammel said they would appear in April numbers) and whether anticipated state timelines would require a revised budget calendar. The finance presentation closed with the board acknowledging the uncertainty and thanking staff for scenario work.
