Bath County staff present tentative budget with $10.4M SEEK assumption and $800,000 contingency

At a May 18, 2026, working session, a staff member for the Bath County Board of Education reviewed the district’s tentative budget and salary schedules for the coming school year. The presentation summarized key revenue and spending assumptions and flagged several line-item allocations to be carried into the working budget.

Staff said the tentative budget was entered with a SEEK base of $4,626 and SEEK revenue entered at $10,400,000. The budget includes the May 1 staffing allocations plus two additional aide positions in reserve. Staff noted a beginning fund balance of $6.4 million and said the tentative budget sets the contingency at $800,000, or 3.09% of the budget, above the required minimum of 2%.

Line items called out in the presentation included more than $100,000 for textbooks and software, $100,000 for technology, $20,000 added for middle and high school athletics, $40,000 for testing materials, and property insurance that "exceeds 200,000." Staff also said the budget includes funding for four school resource officers and that $375,000 was included for the potential purchase of two buses, though staff noted the district may ultimately decide not to buy the buses.

No formal vote or motion on the tentative budget occurred during this working session; staff invited questions but the transcript does not record board debate or amendments. Staff said the numbers represent the district’s best estimate for next year and noted budgets are adjusted when the working budget is developed in September, after actual year-end balances are known.

The working session adjourned after the budget presentation; the board will consider formal adoption of the budget on the timeline required by state law at later public meetings.