School finance director presents Coffee County Schools budget; board approved 2% to meet $50,000 starting-pay requirement

The Coffee County Schools finance presenter reviewed the district’s proposed budget and answered commissioners’ questions about revenues, expenditures and program impacts.

On revenues, the presenter said the Tennessee funding formula (TISA) produced an estimate that was roughly $1.1 million higher than last year, but noted $587,000 of that amount is restricted to certified-pay increases required to raise starting teacher pay to a $50,000 certified scale. The district presented both a 2% and a 3% pay-increase scenario; the board approved the 2% increase as the minimum necessary to meet the certified pay target.

The presenter reviewed assumptions for benefits (medical budgeted at an estimated 5% increase), state retirement rate adjustments and the treatment of bonuses — saying a flat $2,000 bonus does not count toward certified-pay-scale calculations. The packet showed projected revenue of approximately $53.4 million and discussed assigned funds for textbooks and technology; the presenter explained why textbook budgets spike in adoption years and how assigned funds smooth those costs.

Several program-level items drew questions: a state notice reduced funded pre-K classrooms from seven to six, which will reduce revenue and require cutting one pre-K class; contracted services for special-education psychology support rose because of market rates; the district is replacing security doors and hallway work funded earlier ($750,000) and has a capital-outlay allocation (often about $600,000) for furniture and improvements. The presenter estimated per-pupil spending at about $13,700 based on roughly 4,100 students and said TISA changes and hold-harmless rules could affect next-year calculations.

Food service staff separately reported that adoption of the Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) increased federal reimbursements and participation; the food service fund ended the year with a positive balance but will likely need a budget amendment tied to the higher meal participation and summer feeding programming.

Commissioners asked follow-up questions about staffing, technology funds, SRO funding (paid by the sheriff’s office), and how rural versus city school funding and debt-service options interact with county borrowing. The commission and staff scheduled a May 14 follow-up meeting to review insurance bids and department presentations ahead of final budget decisions.