The Franklin County Schools Board of Education passed the 2023 budget following a presentation by CFO Carla Knight.

Knight reported the total budget is approximately $57 million, citing the main increases being education pay raises and all CARES act funds being budgeted this year.

She noted the projected ending general fund balance is $3.8 million. This meets – in fact exceeds – the criteria of the law mandating a one-month general fund balance, which is $2.7 million dollars. “We have approximately a 1.4 month’s fund balance,” Knight said.

She explained the 2023 budget is based on this past year’s Average Daily Membership of 3,466 students, noting the expectation is for the final ADM for this year to be close to that number.

Knight reported a total of 562 employees, including certified and support personnel.

She reported expenditures by area are as follows:

• Instruction – 55 percent
• Auxiliary Services – 12 percent
• Operations and Maintenance – 10 percent
• Capital Outlay – 8 percent
• Administrative – 4 percent
• Debt Services – 3 percent
• Other – 8 percent

The board additionally approved the five-year capital plan, which includes:

Funding Year 2022

• Belgreen – $2,000,000 for additions
• East Franklin Junior High – $2,500,000 for additions and renovations
• Phil Campbell Elementary – $450,000 for additions
• Red Bay High – $10,000,000 for a new school; $900,000 for renovations
• Vina – $45,0000 for additions

Funding Year 2023

• Belgreen – $1,500,000 for additions
• Phil Campbell Elementary – $750,000 for additions

Funding Year 2024

• East Franklin Junior High – $125,000 for renovations
• Tharptown High – $600,000 for additions

Funding Year 2025

• Phil Campbell Elementary – $1,500,000 for additions
• Phil Campbell High – $750,000 for additions
• Tharptown High – $2,000,000 for additions

Funding Year 2026

• Phil Campbell High – $4,000,000 for additions

Funding Year 2027

• Franklin County Career Technical Center – $4,000,000 for additions

In other business, Franklin County Board of Education Superintendent Greg Hamilton recognized all the board members for completing the required training hours for the 2021-2022 academic year. “I appreciate everything you do as a member of the board,” Hamilton said as he handed out the certificates.

The board also approved:

• Memorandum of Understanding with the City of Red Bay for the school resource officer
• Renewal of a memorandum/agreement between the board and the Franklin County Commission for three SROs for the 2022-2023 school year.

The next meeting of the Franklin County Board of Education is set for Nov. 15, immediately following the work session, which begins at 5 p.m.

For more details of the system’s FY 2023 budget, contact central office.