The Henry County School Board approved a proposed $101,748,527 spending plan for 2024 at its March 2 meeting.
David Scott, Assistant Superintendent of Operations and Administrative Services, presented the proposal that includes a requested increase in local funds for pay raises and other expenses.
“Our budget objectives for the fiscal year 2024 budget development are few but I believe they are very much on target,” Scott said.
Budget increases are being sought primarily to give raises to teachers, classified employees, bus drivers and aides, administrative employees, and paraprofessionals who work with students who have learning disabilities.
“We are proposing an increase in the budget for fuel costs, and we are also looking at providing front-end budgeting for bus replacement,” Scott said, noting there was a slight increase in utility costs impacting the budget,” Scott said.
“We do show a $300,000 increase in utilities,” Scott said. However due to a reduction in other areas the total impact averages about $200,000.
The total increase to the 2024 budget is $1,530,730 from the previous year. Scott said that 62 percent of the expenditures will go towards instruction with the majority of it going towards raises for employees. The facilities budget has decreased to 1 percent from its typical 4-5 percent of the total budget.
The proposed budget for 2024 includes a capital improvement plan for various projects including HVAC (heating and air) systems, lighting replacement, elevator installation, roof replacement, field houses, handicap accessibility to athletic campuses, track repair, and turf upgrades.
“State funding for this year comes in at $70,620,860,” Scott said. The amount is $328,048 more than fiscal 2023. The budget also shows an increase in local matches and leeway funds of $702,682 more than the previous year.
The budget proposal now will be reviewed by the Henry County Board of Supervisors.
The board presided as several students were recognized for various achievements in a multitude of categories, including students who placed in the Eastern Oratorical Competition, Laurel Park Middle School Ladies’ Volleyball, students who received District Scholastic Bowl Honors, All District Swim, All District Wrestling, 1st and 2nd Team Regional Honors, and All Regional Forensics.
