‘Leadership reset’ underway as Twiggs schools confront budget crisis

Twiggs County Public Schools has been overspending its annual budget by about $1.1 million and is now relying on emergency measures to stabilize cash flow, the interim superintendent said Tuesday.

At the Feb. 10 board of education meeting, interim Superintendent Tyrone Bacon detailed a years-long pattern of financial mismanagement and outlined a “leadership reset” aimed at rebuilding financial stability, protecting classrooms and restoring public trust.

This reset will include significant changes such as cuts to central office roles, professional learning opportunities and overtime to reduce structural costs during this period, Bacon said.

An independent certified public accountant confirmed the scope of the district’s financial problem, Bacon said. “Year-in and year-out, we’ve been $1.1 million over budget. This condition has existed for some time,” Bacon said. Payments fell behind for insurance, taxes and regular vendor payments, he added.

Although Bacon said the district’s financial condition developed over time, he did not mention specific dates or timelines. Bacon cited gaps in transparency, salary growth that outpaced revenue and a failure to prioritize long-term stability.

Payroll accounts for 88-90% of district expenses, Bacon said. Some positions saw salary increases of up to 40% over a three-year period, creating permanent structural costs.

Postponing routine maintenance increased long-term district costs as well, he said.

“Twiggs County is not new to financial hardships. There’s little room in our district and in our country for financial mistakes,” Bacon read from his presentation, which noted that there is historically limited financial resources for the area. “We have a small tax base and limited margins for error.”

Twiggs County is a rural area, and 100% of the district’s students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, “reflecting the economic needs of its families,” according to the district.

Bacon became the new leader of Twiggs County Public Schools in December 2025, succeeding former Superintendent Mack Bullard. Bacon said current leadership did not create the financial conditions but is responsible for addressing them.

Last year, Bullard disclosed mounting financial strain in the district, citing the need to curb spending and rebuild reserves after what he described as “a perfect storm” of delayed federal reimbursements, rising costs and declining enrollment, as previously reported by The Telegraph.

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

During the financial strain, Bacon said the board lacked clear and timely financial information from “individuals in charge.” Budget variances were not fully visible, and cash flow stress was not clearly communicated, which delayed transparent correction and oversight tools, he added.

“At some point, the board — we’re going to seek legal intervention to get the information that it needed to make decisions that the district needed,” Bacon said.

Despite the strain, critical bills are paid and up-to-date while emergency cash controls have been implemented, according to Bacon. But he says tight monitoring is still required.

“Stabilization alone is insufficient. We must make changes,” he said.

How financial oversight will be implemented

To maintain payroll and basic operations while longer-term fixes are implemented, the district plans to secure a $1.5 million tax anticipation note, or TAN, from the Bank of Dudley.

A TAN is a short-term, low interest loan available to school systems to meet financial expenditures, such as payroll. The low-risk loan is given to government entities to temporarily cover expenses from revenue they expect to receive later.

“The district is experiencing severe cash flow shortages,” Bacon said. “Payroll, benefits and vendor obligations must remain uninterrupted. Prior-year budgeting and spending decisions have left limited liquidity. A TAN provides a responsible short‑term bridge while corrections are being implemented.”

He said the funds will stabilize immediate cash flow, protect district operations, maintain continuity of student services and ensure employees are paid on time.

Bacon outlined a four part recovery plan: stabilize the current fiscal year, prepare responsibly for the upcoming year, strengthen the district’s financial footing and conduct a financial distress assessment. This plan was also mentioned at the board’s January meeting.

“Most of those reductions will happen here at the central office. Retirements will be prioritized over layoffs. We will reorganize for efficiency, and administrative overhead will be reduced significantly to meet budget goals,” Bacon said.

Bacon emphasized that staff and students will remain protected during this period of financial amendments.

“Instruction is our priority. Instruction is what we will do first,” he said. “The classrooms and the students will be protected. Students will not pay for adult decisions. Classified staff will not balance the budget.”

Nonessential purchases will also be suspended, overtime will be significantly limited, and professional learning opportunities and field trips will be reduced, he said.

Bacon said this recovery will take years, as it is not an easy fix.

Bacon acknowledged multiple requests from The Telegraph for comment on the district’s financial condition and its origins but did not respond before publication.

This story was originally published February 11, 2026 at 4:18 PM.