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Franklin County board narrows school spending authority, approves consultant amid projected school deficit
Summary
After months of budget work, the board approved a county-funded interim finance consultant, then adopted a restrictive quarterly appropriation resolution that limits school transfers between major categories and requires corrective plans; the school finance consultant and external auditor have projected a year‑end school deficit near $1.2 million.
The Franklin County Board of Supervisors on June 16 approved interim finance support for the school division and adopted a new appropriation resolution that tightens how the board will provide operating funds to Franklin County Public Schools.
Consultant contract: The board approved a single‑term contract with Owens & Associates (Rebecca Owens) to provide interim finance and operational support while the school division transitions to a new chief financial officer. The county will procure the contract (procurement cap $80,000); the county and school will share cost responsibility and county staff will monitor deliverables. The motion passed with one dissenting vote.
School finance projections: External consultant Ann Shaver told supervisors that the school division’s 11‑month projection shows improvement from earlier forecasts but still expects a year‑end negative change in net position of approximately $1.2 million unless additional offsets arrive. Shaver outlined state and federal timing risks that affect revenue recognition and described options such as expenditure curtailments or an intergovernmental repayment mechanism should a shortfall materialize.
Appropriation resolution: In a separate, decisive vote the board adopted an appropriation resolution that (a) restricts future school operating appropriations to quarterly allocations by major expenditure category, (b) allows administrative transfers only within categories (not between them), (c) requires schools to submit quarterly budget‑to‑actual reports, staffing and vacancy lists, encumbrance and grant summaries, and (d) mandates a corrective action plan within 15 business days if a projected overspend is identified. The resolution passed on roll call with one No vote.
Why it matters: The measures move oversight from an annual appropriation to a recurring, category‑based approval model intended to increase county visibility into school spending and provide a formal mechanism to address projected overspends. School leaders said the additional county funding approved this budget cycle — a nearly $3.8 million local increase — helped fund step increases, partial health‑insurance subsidies and bus purchases, but capital and maintenance needs remain large and some operating risks persist.
Ending: Board and school officials said they will continue working together on near‑term cash planning, federal/state reimbursements and the CIP design and bidding process for several critical HVAC projects next summer.
