The Cherokee County School System gets its funding from state, federal and local sources.
All revenues are obtained from appropriations, allocations, grants, taxes and other sources.
Projected revenues, totaling $37,486,973, include $22,657,377 from state revenues, $4,225,300 from federal revenues, $10,384,074 from local revenues and $220,222 from other sources.
Projected expenditures, totaling $37,398,187, include $18,732,218 for instructional services, $5,503,931 for instructional support services, $2,587,820 for operation and maintenance, $5,363,090 for auxiliary services, $1,493,702 for general administration, $1,374,061 for capital outlay, $1,325,656 for debt service and $1,008,709 for other expenditures.
“Our expenditures are slightly under our revenues which is always a good thing,” said Robin Cunningham, financial officer for Cherokee County Schools.
State revenue sources include the Foundation Program, School Nurses, Technology Coordinator, Alabama Reading Initiative, Career Tech O and M, Children First, Transportation (operations and fleet renewal funds), At-Risk, Preschool, Gifted Education, Pre-Kindergarten Program, Public School Funds, High School Graduation Exit Remediation and English as a Second Language.
Federal revenue sources include No Child Left Behind-Title I, Part A, Title II, Part A-Teacher and Principal Training, Title VI, Part B-Rural and Low Income School Program, Title IV, Part B-21st Century, Title X-Homeless,; Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA-Part B and Pre-School Part B, Ages 3-5), Vocational Education Basic Grant, USDA-Child Nutrition and Title VII, Part A-Indian Education.
Local revenue sources include Ad Valorem Taxes-countywide-14 mills, district regular-3 mills and special district-5 mills; County Sales Tax-.5 percent; Special County Sales Tax-1 percent; Business Privilege Tax, Medicaid Outreach Program, Alcohol Beverage Tax-Cedar Bluff School, Manufactured Homes-Registration Fees, Helping School Tags and Local Schools.
The Cherokee County School System, as stated in its Vision Statement, “strives to provide all students with multiple quality educational opportunities designed to prepare them for success in an ever-changing society.”
The mission of Cherokee County Schools is to provide all students with a quality education that enables them to become lifelong learners, caring individuals and productive and responsible citizens in a diverse and ever changing world.
The purpose of the budget hearings, Cunningham explained, is to present the financial information to the general public and to solicit the public’s input into the budget process for Cherokee County Schools.
The Projected Beginning Balance, totaling $5,710,176, includes $4,046,223 from the general fund, $1,257,537 from special revenue, $150,000 from capital projects and $256,416 from fiduciary.
The Projected End Balance total of $5,912,279 includes $4,519.242 from the general fund, $1,101,609 from special revenue and $291,428 from fiduciary.
The School Fiscal Accountability Act requires that a board of education develop a plan to establish and maintain a minimum reserve fund equal to one month’s operating expenses.
The projected reserve at the close of 2012-2013 fiscal year is $4.5 million, which is 1.84 months of operating expenses.
“Mrs. Cunningham, first of all, thank you for your hard work and dedication to our system,” said Brian Johnson, superintendent, Cherokee County Schools. “I can tell you Mrs. Cunningham spends a lot of hours late at night, early in the morning here.”
“I would also like to thank this board of education for always keeping our school system in good financial standing,” said Johnson. “That is not always easy during these tough financial times. Thank you for what you have done for our system.”
With Johnson’s recommendation, the board approved the budget for fiscal year 2012-2013.
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