County, school board debate over school’s budget ongoing

By Eddie West

Staff Writer

Days before the county commission is to vote on an overall 2024-2025 fiscal year county budget, debate continues over the school system’s budget for next year. 

Questions remain as to whether the school system’s proposed budget will be approved or rejected by the full commission.

At issue is added spending appropriations included in the school system’s proposed budget.

With healthy surplus funds, estimated to be as much as $10 million, school officials aren’t asking the county for any additional money to fund any of the added expenditures.

However, county commissioners are looking farther down the road. Not this year or even next year.

County officials are  concerned reoccurring expenditures in the school system’s proposed budget will erode the school system’s surplus funds in the near future and have therefore asked the school board to make cuts in next year’s budget.

On the other hand, considering the school system’s surplus in funds combined with added revenue projections, school board members  do not agree with commissioners’ theory.

School officials point to the state department of education committing to increasing revenues for county school systems. Also, school officials say much of the funding for ongoing projects is being or will be provided through state and federal grants and there’s more of these grants out there. 

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