Robbinsville – Graham County Schools are in the red by over $620,000, as costs continue to mount.
With school out for the summer, the Graham County Board of Education had an unusual late-month, special-called meeting to tie up loose ends, one of which won’t be resolved any time soon – funding.
Schools Finance Officer Lester Greene presented several pages of budget amendments to the school board on Tuesday, moving money between various accounts – $2.24 million of money already on the school district ledgers, but moved around to comply with regulations and spending requirements.
In the process, Greene concluded that state and federal funding are not keeping pace with rising expenses for payroll, supplies, utilities, fuel, food and maintenance.
The state is requiring the district to raise its minimum wage to $15 per hour, without providing funding for the extra wages or higher benefits costs.
A $1.8-million state supplement for small schools has not changed since 2008, Greene said, as hyper-inflation continues to cause headaches.
Previously, the fund used paid for the district’s utility bills, with money left over.
The district has been receiving $1 million from the state each year for child nutrition.
Graham County Schools has not spent that much in the past, but it did this year, and next year looks even worse.
Next, Graham County Schools pays a $2.25 delivery fee for each carton of food that it receives – but that fee is more than doubling next year, to $6 per carton.
Transportation is another issue.
The state has been paying all the costs for yellow school buses, but fell short by $105,000 this year, Greene said.
“If the reimbursement rate (from the state) doesn’t increase, we’re going to be in trouble,” Greene said.
The district asked Graham County commissioners for an extra $500,000 on top of the annual $1 million it has been getting. Facing budget issues of its own, the most the county could manage was $263,000 extra, plus the usual $1 million, and school officials are grateful for that.
“Our funds are going to be extremely difficult going forward,” Greene said. “… The state’s just not holding up its end of the deal.”
Other news and notes
* The board made minor revisions to the 2022-23 school calendar, removing some remote education days and repurposing others to become teacher work days and professional development. The first day of school is unchanged and is still Monday, Aug. 22. The Christmas break starts Dec. 21 with an early release day, with school resuming on Jan. 5. Spring break will be the week of April 9. Officials are hoping to hold classes remotely during snow days.
* Another special-called meeting is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, July 19 if necessary. The next regular meeting of the board will be Tuesday, Aug. 2.