Nearly $22m deficit stalls Bibb County Schools budget in split board vote

The Bibb County Board of Education failed to pass Superintendent Dan Sims’ recommended tentative budget for fiscal year 2026, following a heated debate and a 4-4 split vote Thursday.

The proposed budget included a 3% raise for certified staff, the implementation of a classified salary study and added positions to address student needs — but also came with a projected $21.9 million deficit, prompting concern about long-term fiscal sustainability.

With the tentative budget rejected, district officials will now need to revise and revisit the proposal, potentially delaying the timeline for final budget adoption.

Key priorities in the proposed budget included offering competitive salaries to recruit and retain educators and creating new positions to address student needs and persistent issues, such as chronic absenteeism and literacy skills. The staffing adjustments alone would cost about $7.7 million.

Board member Henry Ficklin raised concerns about the district’s rising deficit, noting it had grown from $3.4 million last year to nearly $22 million. He also sparked a lengthy discussion about internal cost-saving measures, such as reducing non-essential travel expenses and eliminating the proposed new staff positions.

Chief Financial Officer Eric Bush pointed to an increase in unfunded state mandates, particularly in health insurance, as one reason for the budget pressure. He added that the district has been using the fund balance to cover some personnel costs.

Board member Daryl Morton expressed unease about the district’s reliance on federal money.

“I don’t know what governmental whims we’re going to be dealing with in the next six-to-twelve months,” Morton said. “What happens if money we’re relying on suddenly gets yanked away, say for nutrition or other federal grants?”

Bush responded that if federal funding is reduced or eliminated, the district would need to make rapid budget amendments and potential cuts.

Board member Barney Hester voiced long-term financial concerns for the district.

“My concern is three, four years from now,” Hester said. “I know we were getting money from federal grants with COVID and all that, and we had extra money to do things with. But my concern is how we’re going to replace that? We’re going to put it back on our taxpayers? Or are we make cuts now—little, smaller cuts and cuts next year and not bleed so bad. I just have a big concern, and I guess my biggest concern is our administration is not seeing the same thing I’m seeing.”

In defense of the proposed budget, Sims stressed the district’s past and current efforts to maintain fiscal responsibility.

“The last thing we’re going to do is allow things to get so out of control that we cannot count for good fiscal responsibility,” Sims said. “If we had not already in the past demonstrated that we were not able to make cuts, perhaps I would have questions, but we demonstrated that, and we will continue to demonstrate that.”

He added that salary increases are necessary to attract and retain qualified staff.

Sims acknowledged the financial challenges, including the concerns around travel expenses, but emphasized the need to maintain momentum in addressing student needs.

Board member Myrtice Johnson backed Sims and said eliminating the proposed new staffing positions, such as the proposed truancy officer, would hurt students.

“Everything that we do is centered around the needs of our students,” Johnson said. “Our staff leaves us for other school districts because they get paid more, and they have more opportunity. So, if we are going to stay in a competitive nature, we’ve got to step up to the plate.

“Are we going to be more concerned about the students or more concerned about a dollar or two?” Johnson added.

The motion to approve the tentative budget failed, prompting the board to reconsider its approach before the required budget adoption deadline on June 30.

Board members Lisa Garrett-Boyd, James Freeman, Kristin Hanlon and Myrtice Johnson voted in favor of the budget. Sundra Woodford, Daryl Morton, Henry Ficklin and Barney Hester voted against.

“I’m glad that this is tentative because we need to look at some other things to reduce this budget,” Ficklin said.