Superintendent Rex Mitchell, Hamilton County Schools

JASPER, Fla. — Florida Commissioner of Education Pam Stewart has accepted the Hamilton County School District’s fiscal recovery plan. 

Superintendent Rex Mitchell announced in a meeting April 10, the district faced a projected $1.3 million deficit for the end of the year.

According to Mitchell, the deficit stemmed from a reduction in funds due to the number of students in the school district declining and an increase in spending in transportation and maintenance.

Mitchell said at the June 12 meeting that they have managed to decrease the deficit to $112,000. With the plan, the district will need to work to get the assigned and unassigned fund balance in the general fund up to $4-500,000.

“Everybody is working hard together to get there,” Mitchell said. 

The plan includes the elimination or consolidation of 26 positions. 

Below is an outline of the plan:

• Consolidation of responsibilities at the district level to eliminate seven positions for a projected savings of $249,006
• Overtime savings in the transportation and maintenance department for a projected savings of $175,000
• Elimination of five administration positions and consolidation of eight instructional positions at elementary school for a projected savings of $518,621
• Elimination of six position at Middle/High School for a projected savings of $266,057
• Closed schools electricity for a savings of $38,130

According to plan, the total proposed savings is $1,246,814. The district is required to provide the Department of Education with monthly general fund financial statements. 

The school district will not know the final budget deficit until the end of the fiscal year on June 30.