Financial strain hits Twiggs County Public Schools. Here’s what to know

Twiggs County Public Schools is tightening spending and working to rebuild its financial reserves after experiencing a short-term cash flow strain brought on by delayed federal reimbursements, rising costs and declining enrollment, officials say.

During an Oct. 21 board meeting, the district reviewed its monthly financial status report following the fiscal year through September. Superintendent Mack Bullard acknowledged the district has faced “financial challenges,” but stressed that the situation is not a crisis and that the district is already reducing “outstanding balances” through stricter spending discipline and incoming tax revenues.

“We are in a season with many unprecedented challenges and mandates have created the perfect storm for financial strength, and I take responsibility as superintendent and want to address where we go from here,” Bullard said at the meeting.

“The moment is not a crisis — it’s a call,” Bullard said. “A call to be more disciplined, a call to be better stewards, and a call to lead with unity and accountability.”

Bullard addressed a $1.35 million line item in the district’s September financial report, explaining that it represented open purchase orders — funds the district has committed to future purchases, not overdue bills or debt. He said the district’s balance has since dropped to just over $1 million and is expected to continue declining as reimbursements and property tax collections arrive in the coming weeks.

Bullard attributed the district’s tight cash position to what he called a “perfect storm” of challenges, including a $660,000 delay in federal funding disbursements following the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, a 60% increase in state health benefit premiums without state offsets for non-certified staff, declining student enrollment that reduced state Quality Basic Education funding, and rising operational costs due to post-pandemic inflation.

Bullard also noted that the county’s limited economic and population growth, as well as declining local revenue, has also affected the school district.

“But while those were contributing factors, they’re not excuses. They are the reasons. They are simply the truth, and the truth we confront. We are going to manage, and we will overcome,” Bullard said.

The superintendent noted that most Georgia districts experience a “cash-poor” period from July through October before local tax revenues are received but said Twiggs County’s fund balance — about $400,000 at the start of the fiscal year — has fallen below recommended levels.

To stabilize finances, TCPS has reduced non-essential purchases, aligned staffing levels with enrollment through attrition, begun weekly cash flow monitoring meetings, and set a goal to rebuild its fund balance to 10% of the general fund by fiscal year 2026, Bullard said.

“We’ve slowed nonessential purchases. We’ve aligned our staffing to enrollment. We’ve been doing that for the last two years,” Bullard said. “We are saying no in areas where in the past we have said yes to some purchases.”

James Austin, TCPS assistant superintendent, emphasized that while general questions about school finances have circulated statewide due to issues in other districts, no specific concerns have been raised about Twiggs County Schools.

“Like many school systems across Georgia, TCPS has received general questions about financial practices due to isolated financial issues in other districts,” Austin said in an email. “Although no such concerns have been directed toward TCPS, the district believes proactive communication is essential to maintaining confidence and ensuring that the public clearly understands the information presented in official reports.”

Toward the end of the meeting, after returning from executive session, board member Teresa Blackshear moved to suspend expenditures immediately unless prior approval is granted by a majority vote of the board. Board member Rhonda King seconded the motion.

The motion passed unanimously.

“Transparency builds trust, but clarity builds understanding,” Bullard said in a statement. “We want our board, staff and community to have both. By providing clear explanations of financial language and processes, we are strengthening our commitment to responsible stewardship of public funds.”

Austin added that the district will “provide open dialogue, financial transparency, and clear explanations of reporting practices as part of its commitment to accountability and public trust.”

Despite the current financial tightening, the district recently earned recognition as one of just 21 Georgia school systems to receive the Economic Development Partnership distinction from the state Department of Education for its workforce development programs.