Finance staff presents FY27 budget projection showing roughly $2.2 million shortfall

Finance staff presented the tentative FY27 revenue and expenditure projections to the Coffee County School Board and stressed that the numbers are preliminary pending the official DOE allotment.

The presentation listed local revenue estimated at $18,371,500, state QBE projected at $62,268,071 (noting a slight decline tied to decreased FTE), and identified federal and other sources including Medicaid revenue shown flat at $720,000. Staff called out a $432,831 addition for literacy coach funding tied to recently passed legislation. "These are projections that we have not received our official allotment from DOE at this time," a staff member said.

During the meeting staff read two closely related totals when describing estimated revenue: one figure of $92,053,827 and a later read of $92,553,287; staff characterized the figures as estimates to be finalized during closing processes. Estimated expenditures were presented at $94,798,854, producing an estimated shortfall in the neighborhood of $2.2 million.

Board members pressed on staffing stresses, substitute pay and recruitment tied to travel distances; one board member said principals are "running tight." A board member expressed support for recommending the budget for approval and announced a called meeting for June 2 at 5:30 p.m. at Coffee High School’s Clayton Mathis Performing Arts Center for the board to further consider the budget.

No formal vote on the FY27 budget took place at this session; the public hearing was closed and the board scheduled further action at the called meeting.