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Knox County Board approves amended FY2027 budget after rejecting substitute to use reserves to save 29 positions
Summary
Board approved an amended FY2027 general purpose budget of $713,665,000 after rejecting a substitute motion to use about $2.6 million in fund balance to restore 29 staffing positions for one year; the substitute failed and the main motion passed by roll call.
The Knox County Board of Education approved an amended fiscal‑year 2027 general‑purpose budget on July 9, voting to accept a revised plan that reflects the county commission’s reduction in revenue.
The amended budget totals $713,665,000, administration said. Board members debated a substitute motion offered during the meeting to use fund balance (approximately $2.6 million) to restore 29 positions for one year. Miss Pike moved the substitute, and Miss Templeton seconded; the substitute failed on a roll‑call vote (1 yes, 5 no, 3 pass).
Administration explained the recommendation to adopt the revised budget as presented, citing constraints on using fund balance to cover recurring costs and noting state reporting deadlines. Chief financial staff said the state would not approve a budget that relied on fund balance until year‑end reports were completed (reports due Oct. 31). They also said principals had already prepared plans to absorb the staffing changes and that some affected staff could be reassigned within district openings this year.
Michael O’Malley, a Carter High School teacher speaking during the public forum on the budget item, urged the board to press the county commission to restore funding and to attend commission meetings: "Reserve funds are for emergencies and having to lose 29 staff positions and furlough many more is what I would call an emergency," he said.
Board members weighed human impact against long‑term fiscal sustainability. Administration noted certain federal‑funded positions that would be furloughed for five days would leave funds in the federal buckets (Title/IDEA) for allowable uses; staff estimated approximately $50,000 across those funds.
After debate the board returned to the original motion (moved by Mr. Triplett and seconded by Ms. Henderson) and approved the amended FY2027 general‑purpose budget by roll call: eight yes votes and one pass. Administration said principals had developed plans to place impacted staff and that central office had worked to reassign employees where possible.
What this means: The board approved the amended budget for FY2027. A substitute effort to use fund balance to temporarily restore the 29 positions failed; administration warned that using fund balance to cover recurring costs could delay state approval of the budget until year‑end reports are filed.
