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Board pauses on tentative FY2027 budget and millage after extended debate; approves multiple procurement items and transfers
Summary
After a multi‑hour exchange about timing and missing tax digest numbers, the board removed the tentative FY2027 budget and tentative millage from the agenda. The meeting did approve multiple contract renewals, budget transfers and capital change orders, including a $9M ESS substitute services renewal and a $1.83M HVAC award for Savannah Classical Academy.
The Savannah‑Chatham County Board of Public Education approved a series of procurement actions and budget transfers on June 3 but declined to set a tentative FY2027 budget or tentative millage rate amid uncertainty about the county tax digest.
Procurement and financial actions approved at the meeting included:
- A one‑year renewal of the district’s substitute employee services contract (RFP25‑31) with ESS Southeast LLC at an estimated annual cost of $9 million. - Approval of a first renewal for school nutrition food products and distribution (Williams Institutional Foods) for an estimated $10,335,131 for FY27, and a one‑year extension for fresh produce to Creation Gardens, Inc. (What Chefs Want) at an estimated $91,000 after a new solicitation returned zero bids. - Award of the Savannah Classical Academy HVAC replacement contract to Mosler LLC (dba Founders Maintenance & Restoration) at a total cost of $1,829,900 and a requested budget transfer of $2,200,000 to cover project costs and contingency. - Approval of Change Order #2 for Johnson High School roof replacement to address hidden conditions uncovered after roof removal; change order amount $839,347 and board‑approved transfer from EastBlast roofing unallocated funds. - Renewals/extensions of annual technology hardware/software contracts (Ari Jones Educational Solutions and CDW Government LLC) for an estimated combined annual amount up to $7 million. - Budget transfers to align object codes and fund safety/security and communications subscription accounts, including a transfer of $13,352,743 to school safety and security and $2,866,337 to communications web‑based subscriptions to comply with state accounting codes.
During a lengthier, multi‑member discussion on the tentative FY2027 budget and proposed millage (staff presented a tentative general fund expenditure of $696,824,541 and a combined millage rate estimate of 17.331 mills), board members expressed concern about adopting tentative numbers without a finalized tax digest from the county assessor. Board counsel and staff discussed statutory notice requirements for millage hearings and the option of a temporary spending resolution if the digest arrives late.
Ultimately a motion was made and approved to remove items 10.11 (tentative FY2027 budget) and 10.12 (tentative millage) from the agenda so the board can revisit them after county tax digest figures and additional analysis are available. Members repeatedly stressed that adoption of a strategic plan will require accompanying budget decisions in short order and that staff must return with precise revenue estimates and revised budget options.
