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Budget committee approves cafeteria and extended-school budgets; reviews capital, textbooks and impact-fee options
Summary
The committee unanimously approved the central cafeteria fund and extended school program budgets, heard that $686,000 in special-education bus costs may shift to impact-fee funds, and reviewed capital priorities including a Franklin High renovation and a volatile textbook-adoption schedule.
The Williamson County Budget Committee on April 28 approved two school sub-budgets put forward by the education committee: the central cafeteria fund (proposed budget $21,615,317) and the extended-school program ($8,257,627). Both measures passed by voice vote with no recorded opposition.
During the second-review presentation, school staff said they identified $686,000 in special-education growth-bus costs that can be funded from the educational impact-fee fund rather than the operating budget; staff said the school board already approved that shift and the county may see a resolution on the matter in upcoming commission actions. Rachel said moving that expense to impact fees would directly shrink the district's general-fund gap by the same amount.
Capital plan highlights: the committee reviewed the annual capital-request packet and five-year plan and asked staff for project-level detail. A significant athletics-line increase reflected a renovation project at Franklin High School to improve female wrestling facilities and equalize locker-room space; staff said this is a renovation rather than a new building and that projects have not been bid or approved. Members discussed whether educational impact fees (restricted to growth-related capital) might be used for some projects and asked county legal counsel to confirm permissible uses and any Title-related constraints.
Textbooks and multi-year volatility: staff explained the state's eight-year adoption schedule drives big year-to-year swings in textbook spending. This cycle includes a large upcoming social-studies adoption; staff estimated textbook costs might swing roughly $7.5 million between low and high years.
Next steps: the committee scheduled a follow-up meeting May 4 to review resolutions and second readings; staff will provide requested project details, legal guidance on impact-fee flexibility, and any additional accounting clarifications the committee requests.
Source notes: budget amounts and motions are recorded from the committee's April 28 meeting materials and the transcript of the proceedings. Approved budget totals were read into the record by the chair during the session.
