Clarke County Democrat

Clarke school board’s expenses exceed revenues in new budget





The Clarke County Board of Education voted Sept. 5 to approve the fiscal year (FY) 2014 budget.

Projected revenues (from all sources) total $28,150,839.38, and expenditures total $28,760,509.26.

Revenues for the General Fund only total $21,360,936.24, and expenditures total $21,212,747.00. The county school system will begin fiscal year 2014 Oct. 1 with a fund balance of $1,804,893.50, and end the FY with $1,410,519.19 on Sept. 30, 2014. That projected ending fund balance is lower than approximately $1.8 million needed for the one-month’s reserve required by the state.

The system should have its one-month reserve balance for the end of FY 2013.

Federal sequestration has forced cuts in

Title 1 ($100,000), special education ($45,000) and school improvement funding ($50,000), said Chief Financial Officer Carmen Rotch. Next year, sequestration will cut even more, she said.

The state continues to not fund, technology, library enhancement and professional development, and transportation costs are underfunded at 80 percent ($300,000 less than needed).

The loss in enrollment has also decreased funding.

“We’ve got it cut down to maximum efficiency,” Rotch said of the transportation budget. “We don’t have any overages or extras. We’ve got no empty buses. We’ve got two mechanics…. We’ve cut it down to the very bottom.”

Overall in the school system, “we’ve cut a lot,” she said. “We’ve cut 15 positions…. We just can’t do anymore and not compromise the needs of the students.” Personnel, other items

In other action from the Thursday meeting, the following personnel actions were approved:

(Resignations) Danica Jones, special education teacher at Jackson High;

(Catastrophic sick leave) Leigh Harrell, teacher at JHS; and Beth Slack, nurse at Jackson Intermediate School.

 The school system has purchased an additional 100 computers since July 1 for various schools, said school superintendent Larry Bagley. The system will continue to spend more money if possible on improving the technology in the system, he said. The school system is seeking grants and local schools are conducting fundraising to seek more funding for technology, Rotch said.

 A $55,000 bid from Johns and Kirksey of Tuscaloosa was approved for the re-roofing of the fifth grade wing at Wilson Hall Middle School.

 Annual bids were approved from Bumpers Oil of Jackson for gasoline (2.9795) and diesel (3.1995).

 The board voted to pay Errors and Omissions Insurance ($9,711).

 A special strategic planning meeting for the board with a representative of the Alabama Association of School Boards was set for Sept. 9.

 The next regular board meeting will be held at 4 p.m. on Oct. 17 at the central office. There will also bea3p.m.worksession.

 Board member Clinton Hawkins was not present at the meeting.



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