BY STEVEN STIEFEL
FOR THE OBSERVER
LEE COUNTY — The Lee County Board of Education learned Monday that the school system’s finances remain on track, aided by stronger-than-expected local sales tax collections.
Chief Financial Officer Ken Roberts told board members the system is performing better than anticipated when last year’s budget was adopted.
“Our projected ending fund balance is $3 million higher than we projected last August,” Roberts said. “We know it’s going to be somewhat higher. Some of that is state funding, and some of it is because we collected more sales tax. Our sales tax collections exceeded expectations last year, creating a larger fund balance at the end of this year.”
Roberts said the system continues to project approximately 3.3 months of operating reserves at the end of the fiscal year. He presented financial figures through April and said a more detailed report on investments and debt, reflecting finances through September, will be presented in November.
“We’re certainly at the point in the year where we can draw significant conclusions from where we’re at,” Roberts said. “If you look at budgeted revenue, we’ve collected 64% of our revenue. That’s typical because we receive a large portion of our property tax collections early in the year. The most important number is the general fund, where most of your discretion is. We’ve spent 58.2% of the budget, so we’re right on target.”
The board approved a budget amendment reflecting expenditures of $115 million, including $8.1 million for debt service.
“It’s a testament to the leadership of this board and the plan to stay within the numbers that we came up with,” Roberts said. “Think about how much changes from last August to this August. It’s a testament to your commitment to the process.”
Comparing the first seven months of the current fiscal year with the same period last year, Roberts said the system remains on pace to maintain its financial goals.
“Most of this budget was saved from last year in terms of general fund surplus,” he said. “That’s well above our targets.”
The board approved Roberts’ monthly financial report and April cash reconciliation report. Members also approved the monthly seclusion and restraint report without discussion.
Before the regular meeting, the board met in a specially called executive session regarding a student expulsion case involving Beulah High School. No details were released publicly.
In other business, the board:
- Approved out-of-state and overnight field trips, including Smiths Station High School basketball summer play dates June 9, 11, 15, 17 and 23 in Columbus and LaGrange, Georgia; the Smiths Station High School wrestling team camp June 14 through 17 in Newnan, Georgia; and the Smiths Station High School football 7-on-7 competition at Georgia Tech in Atlanta.
- Gave first reading to the 2026-27 Student Handbook, Code of Conduct, revisions to Policy 4.12 regarding service animals in public schools and the Career Technical Education Handbook.
- Awarded a bid to Singer for two dishwashers and six stainless-steel clean-dish tables for Beulah and Loachapoka schools at a cost of $82,440.
- Approved personnel recommendations.
The next meeting of the Lee County Board of Education is scheduled for July 14 at 5 p.m. at the Central Office, 2410 Society Hill Road in Opelika.
