Bibb Schools leaders considering cuts, rezoning in budget planning

District leaders say enrollment is projected to drop by nearly 900 students as they consider budget adjustments for 2027.

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Bibb County School District leaders are beginning early planning for the 2027 budget, with projections showing declining enrollment and potential cuts.

District leaders said enrollment is expected to decline again for the 2026–2027 school year, with projections at 20,546 students, a drop of nearly 900 students compared to previous years.

“It’s a situation school system are facing across the nation for a variety of factors,” school board president Daryl Morton said. “People are having less kids. There are more options to where parents can send their children. So, while we’ve had some decline, we’ve been stable right now, but that’s something that everybody is dealing with.”

He says the Georgia Promise Scholarship plays a factor as well. That’s a voucher parents use for their kids to attend another school for different services, and about 600 Bibb County students took advantage of that.

“I thought it was interesting that half the money the legislator set aside was used,” he said. “So I don’t know if that’s going to continue to be a huge factor or not, which we’re going to have to see moving forward.”

Morton expects cuts to include positions that are already vacant.

“It’s not going to be a loss of teachers or administrators, which is really where the full part of education happens,” he said. “What we were really looking at is how can be as efficient as possible with the tax dollars and resources that are entrusted to us. For the board and for the system, a non-negotiable is education in the classroom.”

According to the district, salaries and benefits make up about 85% of general funding, and rising health insurance costs and retirement both play a factor in the budget.

“Fifty percent of our funding comes from the state, whether that’s for teachers, other employees, benefits that type of thing,” Morton said. “What has happened over time is the local systems have become not burdened with responsibility for those types of expenditures, so it’s making it harder to do what we need to do with the money we have.”

He explains what the board is considering to bridge gaps.

“The first thing we are looking at is can we rezone,” he said. “Can we move some kids around that would help those numbers. Then once we see what that can accomplish, then we could look at other options, too. We’re just trying to be good stewards of the resources that are entrusted to us by the people in this community.”

Kristin Hanlon, District 3 board member, says after the next work session, if revenues and expenses are not aligned with the preliminary budget, there are two paths available: expense reductions and revenue increases. As they move through the budget season and receive feedback from stakeholders, those paths will be more clearly defined.

The next budget meeting is scheduled for April 7.