Butts County School Board approves $49.8 million FY2027 budget and OKs $82,271 Title I Chromebook purchase

The Butts County School Board moved to approve its fiscal year 2027 expenditure budget and authorized a Title I-funded Chromebook purchase at a special-called meeting on June 30.

Miss Arneda, a committee member who presented the budget, told the board the district’s proposed expenditure budget for FY2027 totaled $49,800,000 and that instruction would represent the largest share (29.6). She said the district expects a QBE allocation of $22,900,000 and described a modeled 1-mill rollback that would reduce ad valorem receipts to $18,200,000, leading to an estimated local-revenue scenario of $45,400,000 and a potential need to draw on the fund balance.

The nut of the presentation was that rising personnel and benefit costs are the chief pressure on the budget. "Our biggest budget challenges is the annual increase of $171,700 dollars per employee," Miss Arneda said, and she cited a Teachers Retirement System employer contribution change from 21.9% to 22.3% that she said would add about $385,000. She also flagged mandatory state salary-schedule changes, inflationary pressure, and maintenance increases tied to new board offices as contributors to the projected shortfall.

A committee member moved to approve the fiscal year 2027 budget "at $49,808,127.88 as presented." The chair asked Miss Arneda to second; she indicated assent. The transcript records the motion, the second and a call for those in favor but does not include a roll-call or tally; the record does not show a spoken announcement of the final vote tally.

Miss Arneda also asked the board to approve a Title I purchase of Chromebooks. "We're attempting to go with, VertuCom, using Title 1 for $82,271," she said, adding that today was the last day to submit the purchase prior to July 1. A committee member moved to approve the Chromebook purchase; the motion was seconded and the chair called for those in favor. As with the budget motion, the transcript does not record a roll-call or tally for that vote.

On personnel, Miss Arneda reported ongoing recruitment and said contract releases are only being allowed when a replacement has already been identified. She noted a couple of science positions remain open at the high school and one opening at the middle school; new hires still require fingerprinting before completion of hiring.

The meeting closed with brief logistical remarks; Miss Arneda said she would circulate July dates for new-teacher orientation and related events. The transcript does not record a formal adjournment announcement or detailed vote tallies for the motions recorded.

Next procedural steps: the board will proceed with hiring checks and with implementation of approved purchases and the FY2027 budget as directed; the transcript provides no additional deadlines or formal vote tallies.