CFO reports FY26 close looks healthy; board approves FY27 initial budget 4–0

Amy Smith, the district chief financial officer, presented the financial update and an early FY27 budget overview. She told trustees that FY26 closing work is still ongoing but the district has "collected 100.42% of our budgeted revenue" and expended 96.53% of approved expenditures, and that the district expects roughly a $400,000 carryover. Smith said most grants have been closed and the finance team is completing year‑end journal entries requested by state audit staff.

Smith reviewed the FY27 initial budget timeline: staff must transmit an initial FY27 submission to the Georgia Department of Education by the coming Friday, an entry that requires about 8,000 lines of data. The proposed general fund expenditures total $64,565,119 (a 0.79% decrease from FY26); Smith said expenditures currently exceed revenues by "slightly over $2,000,000" but that the district expects to rely on fund balance to manage the difference. Trustees discussed the conservative budget posture and the pending county tax digest; after discussion the board approved the FY27 initial budget as presented by a recorded vote of 4–0.

The CFO also noted a months-long collections figure (referred to in the transcript as "East Bloss" collections) of about $5,681,000 over seven months and said the final FY25 audit report has been received and FY26 audit work has begun.