Gwinnett Schools sets Thursday budget work session

The Gwinnett County Board of Education will hold a Budget Work Session 6:30 p.m. Thursday, June 25 at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center, 437 Old Peachtree Road, NW, Suwanee. It will also be available live online at gwinnett.k12.ga.us.

With the coronavirus pandemic shutting down government operations for nearly three months, the school system and every other government-funded entity in the state is late in preparing budgets for Fiscal Year 2021 which begins July 1.

In order to continue day-to-day operations, the board voted on a “spending resolution” at the June 18 business meeting. It will cover spending for July.

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Normally, local school boards of education adopt budgets prior to the first day of the new fiscal year. However, there are instances when the school board is not able to adopt a budget by July 1. In these instances, there is no authorization for the district to spend any funds in the next fiscal year until the budget is adopted formally.

Legally, the district cannot operate without an approved budget. In order to continue operating when the school board cannot adopt a budget prior to July 1, it must adopt a “spending resolution” which authorizes the superintendent to spend funds in the new fiscal year until the budget is adopted.

Although the exact amount isn’t clear, it will equate 1/12 of the final approved annual expenses.

Shortly before the General Assemble returned last week, Gov. Brian Kemp amended his prediction that budgets must be cut by 14%. He most recently said budgets should be reduced by 11%.

To help offset some revenue shortfalls brought on by COVID-19, the federal government has allocated $411.4 million to be distributed to school systems across the state. Gwinnett’s cut will amount to $32.2 million.

Gwinnett’s budget last year was $2.3 billion. While the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act funds will offer some relief it won’t nearly make up for the $230 million-plus shortfall.

With more than 180,000 students, 230,000 employees and 141 schools, Gwinnett spends $9,960 per student which accounts for 71.3% of the budget.