"Mr. Hooper and I have been working very diligently for our budget next year and we're uncertain about some of our funding at this point and time, so I'm asking for the signing of a spending resolution that would allow us to continue to gain funds from the [Georgia Department of Education] through July, our fiscal year ends in June, and in order for us to get funds, we have to have the board sign a spending resolution this month," Harper said during the board's regular work session. "We certainly believe sometime next month we'll know specifically what all of our funding will be for next year and we'll have a budget ready for you."
President Davis Nelson added, "We can't make final budget decisions until we know everything is in completion from the state and also from the tax assessors office as to what the projected taxes will be for this year."
Hooper noted during his regular financial report the finance department is currently developing a comprehensive website for better communication with the public.
He also spoke during the report the system has collected about 93 percent of revenues for the fiscal year.
"Our expenditures for the year are at 88 percent, so at this point we're running slightly under budget and we anticipate that will continue and will hopefully have a positive outcome on our fund balance," Hooper said.
Revenues for the year are $95.4 million and expenditures are $98.1 million for a deficit of $2.7 million to date.
"Keep in mind that we will have July and August salaries that will affect [the deficit]," Hooper said. "Our budgeted deficit for the year is $9.1 million."
In human resources news, department Executive Director Macy Defnall said the county is making progress in placing the 35 displaced employees in the system, which the board approved last month.
"To date we have made 22 placements -- we've rehired about 67 percent of those folks," Defnall said. "... On the certified side of that, we've had 18 certified faculty impacted by rifts or cuts in the allotments, 13 were limited contracts for a total of 31. To date, we're at 92 percent."
She added, "We have a target on July 24 that we'll be fully staffed."
In other school news, the board will vote next week on an increase in school lunch costs by 10 cents as mandated by the United States Department of Agriculture.
The board will hold its regular business session Monday, June 18, at 6 p.m. in the central office boardroom.
For more school news, including changes to this summer's heat policy for student activities, read The Daily Tribune News.