The FY09 budget is almost $10 million, or 11 percent, larger than last year’s budget. The board is projecting an increase in revenues from $88 million in fiscal year 2008 to $98 million for the upcoming year. These projections are based, in part, on an estimated five percent increase in the Barrow County tax digest.
With projected revenues of $98 million, the school system will end FY09 with a $4 million deficit.
The most current projections show Barrow County Schools ending the 2008 fiscal year with reserves of approximately $7.1 million. The school system will dip into these reserves to cover the projected 2009 deficit, leaving just over $3 million in reserves at the end of the next fiscal year.
In other business, the board:
• authorized the expenditure of $99,835 to replace 3,789 square yards of carpet at Bramlett Elementary School. The carpet is expected to be installed during the first two weeks of July.
• approved $55,239 to replace the gymnasium carpet at Bramlett Elementary School with a rubber floor mat similar to what has been installed at other system schools.
The next meeting of the Barrow County Board of Education will be Tuesday, July 1 at 7 p.m. The board meets at 179 West Athens Street in Winder.