Differing Perspectives Do Not Mean One is Right and One is Wrong
a recap of losing the vote on the FY23 BOE budget and the Superintendent's fantastic response…
I can only see three sides of the Rubik’s cube from my perspective, however, there are three other sides that matter, and one is a mystery to us all.
When our church staff are discussing difficult decisions and someone claims to have the right solution by dismissing another leader’s perspective, my pastor Scott Moore, will place a Rubik’s cube in the center of the table. Then, he’ll ask each person what colors they see. Each time, a person can usually see and name two or three colors. It is impossible for them to see the full six-sides and each color represented on the cube. His point is simple, no one can have the full truth of the cube’s description without the help of another perspective. We must listen to each other and hear what the other leaders see in order to gain as much information as we can. When we do this exercise, we realize that each perspective is needed to fully understand the problem in front of us. And even then, there may be a variable, like the side of the Rubik’s cube that rests on the table, that is a truth we cannot see yet.
This is the current situation with the Newton County School System’s fiscal year 2023 (FY23) general budget. Our board members each looked at the budget numerous times, asked questions, dug deep, and gave their perspectives to the Superintendent.* Then she and her team made adjustments based on our conversations and perspectives. Then we voted. The budget passed 4-1 (mine the only “nay” vote.) The Covington News covered it here. You’ll find the video of the meeting below. I’ll highlight sections that I feel are important about the FY23 budget.
The entire FY23 budget conversation happens from 39:32 - 59:23. It is only 20 minutes, and I implore every tax-paying Newton County citizen to watch it.
39:35 - 43:20 // My remarks and concerns about the FY23 budget. I ask the Superintendent to give me some “words of comfort” if this budget passes.
45:35 - 46:41 // Ms. Abigail Coggin gives a great reminder that our Superintendent does something that few schools systems do, she gathers the Board for a mid-year assessment of the budget and we make adjustments based on financial climate. I commend the Superintendent for this helpful practice.
46:42 - 53:31 // Superintendent Fuhrey responds with grace and gives great insight about her perspective. She gives me the other side of the Rubik’s cube, and it is extremely helpful. The highlights are:
Her team has provided a very conservative revenue projection. In all likelihood, the revenue will be higher than her projection, helping to offset the $15MM expense projections.
$10MM of the increase in expenses is due to a 7% raise for employees to help with staff rentention.
Her team exhibits very conservative stewardship of the tax-payer dollars and closely monitors all spending.
Nearly 90% of the operating budget is salaries.
Her team has included other expenses (like athletics) that are only paid for by local tax dollars; there are no federal funds that help with these expenses.
The Board decided years ago to forego a Debt Service Millage tax and instead pay for our loans through ESPLOST dollars. This helps to spread the “tax”out to all the consumers in Newton County, not just the property owners.
53:31 - // The Superintendent and I discuss teacher retention and the “free” things we can do to help create a positive work climate.
57:20 - // The Superintendent praises the work of the local Economic Development team in bringing in large corporations and business that will be coming on-line soon, helping to provide funds to our school system.
57:53 - 59:01 // Mr. Eddie Johnson gives a great perspective about passing the FY23 budget and the work we must continue to do to lower costs.
59:02 - 59:23 // The budget passes 4-1. I give a childish “yuuuup” for the “opposed” vote, because I’m a big kid like that.
So, the Rubik’s cube was on the table. And the Board of Education members, along with the Superintendent, each gave their perspective. We see different things. We listen to each other. We work together. We all know what the other sees. And there’s still a side we can’t possibly know yet. That variable is the unknown. Will the recession hit us hard? Will we be able to continue to lower the millage (tax) rate? Will we be able to pass a Senior Citizen tax exemption in the near future? Will the influx of housing help grow our tax base?
There are still many unknowns. But we have made the best decision we can based on the information from all the perspectives at the table. I believe in this team. And for the sake of our students, our teachers, our staff, and our community, I pray we continue to work together to make Newton County the best it can possibly be!
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Let’s make a difference together.
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*I include this statement intentionally, because in my previous blog I gave the impression that my fellow board members did not respond to my comments about the budget in the public meeting. While our conversation was brief that night, they had several opportunities to look at the budget and ask questions and make recommendations…and THEY DID. So, I want to make sure I don’t paint an inaccurate picture of the process. They all had plenty to say and many recommendations. There just wasn’t any need to go back over all of that in that particular public meeting.
