There will not be any teacher furloughs in Habersham County this year despite a net loss of $5.7 million in state budget cuts. Chief Financial Officer Staci Newsome says Habersham County Schools are in “very good shape, all things considered.”
Superintendent Matthew Cooper recommended the Habersham County Board of Education (BOE) use reserve funds, reduce operation costs, absorb positions alongside retirement and resignation, and CARES Act funding to close the revenue shortfall. These steps will allow the school system to avoid teacher furloughs, something that had been considered a possibility when state budget cuts were first announced.
Habersham Schools are expected to experience a budget shortfall of $4 million, which will be primarily covered by using 38 percent of the school’s reserve funds. Superintendent Cooper says that the school system has managed their money “very well,” and that the system has built up their reserve funds over the years for a rainy day. “And the rainy day is here,” Cooper said.
Habersham County schools are taking a 12 percent loss in state funds, which will impact transportation and nursing “just a little bit,” Newsome says.
Habersham County’s education sales tax generated $6.8 million in revenue for local schools over the course of the year, which the superintendent credits to Habersham citizens prioritizing of their local economy.”We are blessed here in Habersham County,” Cooper said. “Our people have not only continued to spend money during this challenging time, but they have the means to do it, and they have the places to spend their money here in Habersham County.”
“We feel like our economy in Habersham is fantastic, and it is growing,” Newsome said. The school system projects state and local revenues will reach $68.9 million next fiscal year.
The board expects this year’s total expenses to run about $72.9 million, including salaries, benefits, payroll, and operating expenses.
The full budget may be viewed here: FY 2021 Budget Summary
