Harrison County board hears $5.4M revenue drop; votes to retain South Harrison virtual paraprofessional

The Harrison County Board of Education heard a superintendent financial update that projected a multiyear budget squeeze and voted 3–2 to retain a paraprofessional tied to a proposed distance‑learning lab at South Harrison High School.

The superintendent told the board that the district’s unrestricted fund balance was about $18.1 million in 2025 and that general‑fund revenues were down roughly $5.4 million through March, largely driven by lower property‑tax receipts. "As of March…the general fund revenue is down $5.4 million," the superintendent said, adding the district faces a projected shortfall of about $5.5 million this fiscal year under current assumptions.

The numbers drove a discussion of potential carryover and contingency planning. The superintendent said subtracting the current shortfall from the 2025 unassigned balance would leave a projected unassigned fund balance of roughly $12.6 million and noted a conservative FY27 projection could leave about $3.6 million in reserve "barring no catastrophes, no major changes."

The fiscal update preceded personnel action. The board entered executive session to discuss personnel matters, after which members moved to remove the paraprofessional distance‑learning position for South Harrison High School from the posted transfers. That motion to remove the position from the agenda carried on a voice vote. A separate motion to retain and approve the position was then called and passed on a roll‑call vote recorded in the transcript as "three, two." The transcript does not supply individual roll‑call names for that tally in a complete table; the board’s packet and minutes should be consulted for the official roll call.

Members also approved the broader personnel agenda later in the meeting; the transcript notes the personnel agenda "passes five," indicating approval by the board at that point.

The superintendent reminded the public the budget hearing is scheduled for May 5 and that formal adoption is set for a later meeting per the published timetable. Board members repeatedly emphasized that the district has limited control over state and property‑tax revenue sources and framed upcoming decisions as difficult tradeoffs driven by funding changes.

What’s next: The board will take public comment at the May 5 budget hearing and may direct staff to revise the budget before formal adoption.