By Staff
BUDGET TIME Meridian School Superintendent Janet McLin looks over the school district's $47.4 million budget for the fiscal year that started July 1. McLin oversees a district with 15 schools and more than 7,000 students. Photo by Paula Merritt / The Meridian Star
By Lynette Wilson / staff writer
July 21, 2002
Besides classroom and teacher expenses, budgets for the Meridian and Lauderdale County public school districts also fund a range of other items including maintenance and operating costs.
The Meridian school district operates 15 schools. It has budgeted about $4.9 million to spend on utilities and repairs for the current fiscal year that started July 1.
The Lauderdale County school district operates nine campuses, some of which have elementary, junior high and high schools. The district has budgeted about $2.9 million on utilities and repairs.
Both school districts begin working on their annual budgets in December, more than six months before the start of each fiscal year.
The school boards hold public meetings and hearings in June to discuss proposed budgets. At those meetings, residents are allowed to voice their opinions and any concerns.
McLin said the administration prepares budget briefs and makes recommendations through the entire process giving particular emphasis to the category of "instruction."
Charlotte Parker, finance director for the Lauderdale County School District, said that in recent years her district's budgets "have pretty much stayed the same, except for utilities increasing."