Bibb school board adopts budget with $15 million deficit

The Bibb County Board of Education voted 6-2 to approve the 2027 budget at a special meeting Thursday, solidifying a $15 million deficit for the new fiscal year beginning July 1 and all but guaranteeing a property tax increase. 

The $445.3 million in expenses in the budget assumes a continued decline in student enrollment, no salary raises and an increase in unfunded state-mandates. It also assumes no schools will be closed, a cost-saving measure the board has discussed and studied on numerous occasions over the past four years. Revenues are expected to total $411.5 million. 

Financial projections presented to the board show the district’s fund balance is expected to fall below the state’s minimum threshold of 8% in 2029. This year and in recent years, higher state equalization grants have helped stave off a looming financial crisis. Those grants consist of money the state gives to districts to ensure they are able to offer comparable opportunities and services for students.

Ahead of the vote, board member Henry Ficklin called for fellow board members to support his motion for staff to identify $2 million more in cuts to expenses.

“I cannot vote on a budget where I don’t know the details and there are questions about certain kinds of operational things that are going on that we are not informed (about),” Ficklin said. “I don’t think the budget should be balanced on the backs of the classroom teachers.”

Board member Sundra Woodford seconded Ficklin’s motion, which would have sent the administrators back to the drawing board and necessitated the board pass a spending resolution to fund the district in the meantime. 

Superintendent Dan Sims voiced concerns about meeting the June 30 deadline for budget adoption if the motion passed. CFO Eric Bush said asking staff to identify more cuts “would be an extreme threat level” for the district. 

Ficklin’s motion failed as no other board members supported it.

Ficklin and Woodford also voted against adopting the budget proposed by Superintendent Dan Sims. Board member James Freeman attended the meeting by phone.

“I just cannot in good conscience vote for a budget that does not center students,” Woodford told The Melody after the meeting adjourned. 

Woodford added that some board members previously requested an efficiency study for the central office, but one was not completed. 

“We got the instructional efficiency study but we didn’t get the one that I was really interested in,” she said. 

Next, the school board will need to approve the millage rate. Preliminary options presented at Thursday’s meeting show a tax increase of up to 2 mills will be considered.

Sims’ proposed millage rate is set to be presented at the board’s regular monthly meeting July 16. Two public hearings are slated in August before final adoption is set for the Aug. 19 meeting.