Stephens Co. School System Approves FY 17 Budget

The Stephens County Board of Education approves the school system’s Fiscal Year 2017 budget.

Tuesday, the board voted unanimously to approve that budget.

According to Stephens County School Superintendent Bryan Dorsey, there are no changes from the tentative budget that board members approved at a meeting last month.

The Stephens County school system Fiscal Year 2017 budget totals just under $32.5 million in general fund revenues and about $31.75 million in general fund expenditures, creating an estimated surplus of about $740,000.

If the budget goes as planned, Dorsey said the estimated surplus of $740,000 at the end of the next fiscal year would go into a fund balance for the school system that he expects to be at a figure slightly over $4 million once Fiscal Year 2016’s numbers are finalized in a couple of months.

Dorsey said that fund balance keeps the school system from having to borrow money to cover expenses until tax revenues come in.

The millage rate for the Stephens County school system is 18.3 mills, a cut of 1.45 mills from last year’s 19.75 millage rate.

Also, the school system’s FY 17 budget includes a 180-day school calendar and pay increases for employees.

Dorsey said most classified employees are getting a three percent raise, while the local teaching supplement was also adjusted for certified employees, so any raise is dependent on where a certified employee falls on that scale.