Board approves $953,000 in federal funds for Halifax County Public Schools

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a supplemental appropriation totaling $953,000 in federal grant funds for Halifax County Public Schools at a joint meeting with the planning commission on Feb. 17.

County staff told the board that the grants arrived larger than anticipated and that the appropriation is a 100% federal flow-through that does not require local revenue. "The sum of all the grants together was $953,000," a staff member stated during the presentation.

Vice Chairman Smart moved to approve the supplemental appropriation and Supervisor Oates seconded the motion; the board approved the appropriation by voice vote after staff confirmed a roll call was not required. Staff also told the committee that the appropriation did not trigger a public hearing requirement under the rule discussed at the meeting.

The board did not record a roll-call tally for this motion in the transcript; the clerk noted the motion carried after members signified 'Aye.' The appropriation will be entered into the school board’s budget as a federal flow-through, and staff said no county funds were necessary to match the additional grant money.

Next steps identified by staff include formal budget entry by school-system finance staff and routine reporting consistent with federal grant requirements.