VALDOSTA — The upcoming Valdosta City Schools budget will see quite a bump in state revenue during the 2020 fiscal year.

The tentative budget showed an amount of $46,950,070 in state revenues, which is more than a $5 million increase from the budget last year.

“Most of that is to cover the increase in salaries and benefits that (Gov. Brian Kemp) is proposing,” said Alvin Hudson, assistant school superintendent.

The bump comes this upcoming school year with certified staff receiving $3,000 raises and bus drivers, cafeteria workers and janitors earning a 2 percent raise, school officials said.

Pay raises bring general fund revenues to $72,893,415, whereas the general fund expenditures are $75,847,577.

With a clear negative gap between revenues and expenditures, Hudson assured Valdosta Board of Education members Tuesday there is a plan in motion to balance the budget.

“We are estimating that in order to balance the budget, we’re going to have to pull $2,954,162 from our general funds,” Hudson said.

The estimated fund balance by July 1 will be $18,135,069. When the $2.9 million is taken out to balance the budget, the fund balance will then be $15,180,907, which will be reflected June 30, 2020.

The final adoption of the budget is scheduled to take place June 11 at the city school board office. The general public is invited to attend.

The next BOE meeting will be held May 28 at Sallas Mahone Elementary School. 

Katelyn Umholtz is a reporter with the Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at (229)244-3400 ext. 1256.