Bibb County school leaders discuss cuts, tax increase options amid $23.8M budget deficit

During a called budget work session Thursday morning, district leaders outlined several possible strategies to reduce spending and stabilize the district’s finances.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – The Bibb County Board of Education is continuing discussions on how to address a projected $23.8 million budget deficit for Fiscal Year 2027.

According to district officials, more than $11.4 million in potential reductions have already been identified. Proposed measures include eliminating vacancies, furloughs for some central office employees, freezing salary step increases, increasing class sizes through waivers, outsourcing new paraprofessional positions, and reducing department budgets.

Board President Daryl Morton said the district is working to balance fiscal responsibility with the needs of students and the community.

“What you’re seeing is a healthy budget process,” Morton said. “We’re asking questions about how to respond to public concerns and respond to our concerns, too, and we’re getting that information. People are hurting out there, and we’re dealing with budgetary issues too.”

District leaders say several factors are contributing to the shortfall, including inflation, rising healthcare and retirement costs, and declining student enrollment.

“You’re dealing with basically chronic underfunding of public schools,” Morton said. “You’re dealing with inflation costs and also increased healthcare and retirement contribution costs. More of those costs have been pushed down to the local levels.”

Board members also discussed whether school consolidation efforts could help improve efficiency and reduce long-term costs. However, District 6 board member James Freeman said the process is more complicated than simply closing schools.

“We have schools that are under the level they need to be,” Freeman said. “It sounds like maybe we have too many schools and that if we could consolidate, we could bump up the levels and everything would be great. What we learned in the consolidation study is it’s not that simple. Part of that is a capacity issue. You can’t just close a school and move students into another building because there’s not the capacity in that building.”

District officials have also warned that the board may need to consider a property tax increase to help stabilize finances in the coming years.

The board has not yet voted on a tentative budget. District leaders say a final budget must be approved before June 30.