Budget panel approves school and county budget amendments, funds serving lines and stadium entrance

The Coffee County Budget & Finance Committee approved a slate of budget amendments on May 28 that fund school equipment, special-education services, safety systems and a multi-part stadium renovation while recording a new state grant and routine transfers.

Carlin Cotton, presenting the Coffee County Schools food-service amendment, asked the committee to move $310,000 from the food-service fund balance to pay for three replacement serving lines (the bid for three units totals about $119,000), higher food costs and additional summer-program personnel. "I am asking to move 319,000 from fund balance," Cotton said, adding she expects to recover some costs through program reimbursements and that the district served about 700 meals per week in last year’s summer program. Commissioners approved the amendment by voice vote after a motion by Miss Nettles and a second by Miss Dao.

School staff also won approval for a variety of other amendments: amendment 22 recorded state-grant revisions and a private donation for classroom flags; amendment 23 reallocated TISA outcome-bonus funds to after-school tutoring, analytics software and professional development; amendment 24 adjusted technology and capital-project entries (including roughly $40,000 for additional security software and $50,000 for summer building maintenance); and amendment 25 increased special-education contracted services by $144,948 from fund balance due to rising service costs and reduced federal coverage. The committee accepted a $436,223 state summer-school grant (amendment 26) to cover staff, transportation and food for K–8 summer programming.

On school safety and capital, the board approved amendment 27 to buy six weapon-detection systems for the high school (funded from fund balance) and amendment 28 to proceed with a Cardon Gerald stadium entrance project that includes new ticket-booth facilities, some locker-room work and a refreshed concessions area. A staff presentation said the project was bid with six participants and the board previously authorized moving forward with Sain’s Construction; the package will reduce the county’s unassigned fund balance in staff projections.

The committee also approved a routine reprogramming item presented by finance staff that had no fund-balance effect.

Insurance renewal: the committee accepted a single responsive bid for the county insurance package. Agents on the call said the total package is about $1.525 million, covering property, equipment, cyber, general/professional liability, auto, workers’ compensation and ambulance coverage. Insurance agent John McCord described Travelers as "one of the leading markets in municipal business," noting carriers evaluate replacement-cost values and the county’s growing building and fleet inventory. Commissioners approved the renewal and agreed to quarterly payments.

Why it matters: Several amendments will be funded from unassigned fund balance, and staff projections show the combined package (including other requests) leaves a multi‑hundred-thousand-dollar shortfall that the county will need to address through reserves, spending reductions or revenue actions. Commissioners directed staff to produce certified assessment/penny‑value information before making final decisions about any property-tax-rate changes.

Votes at a glance
- Food-service amendment (move $310,000 from fund balance): Approved (motion by Miss Nettles; second Miss Dao).
- Amendment 22 (state grant and donation recording): Approved.
- Amendment 23 (TISA outcome bonus reallocation — after-school programs/analytics): Approved (motion by Miss Dao; second Mr. Chambers).
- Amendment 24 (technology and capital adjustments): Approved (motion by Mr. Brown; second Mr. Chambers).
- Amendment 25 (special education — $144,948 from fund balance): Approved (motion by Miss Nettles; second Miss D).
- Amendment 26 (summer-school state grant $436,223): Approved.
- Amendment 27 (six weapon-detection systems): Approved.
- Amendment 28 (Cardon Gerald stadium entrance/renovation; proceed with Sain’s Construction): Approved (motion by Mr. Hirshman; second Mr. Chambers).
- Insurance renewal (single bid, Travelers-led package; total ≈$1.525M): Approved (motion by Mr. Broom; second Mr. Chambers).

What’s next: Staff will produce certified property-assessment values so commissioners can calculate the exact penny value before any decision on property-tax-rate adjustments. The committee scheduled a follow-up budget/capital meeting for June 4 (4:30 p.m.) and will move to June 9 at 4:00 p.m. if the assessor’s paperwork is not complete.

Reporting note: Direct quotes and vote attributions are drawn from the committee record. If a speaker was not explicitly named when speaking, the reporting uses the functional role recorded in the meeting.