Like other school districts in the state, the Bremen City Board of Education hopes that continual cutbacks from the state doesn’t set the precedent for financial security next school year.

During their recent board meeting held Monday night, Superintendent Stanley McCain explained the budget and certain implications to consider if austerity cuts carry through next year. The latest figures from the school district show an increase in general fund revenue of about $692,000, including a state revenue increase of about $436,000 due to a surge in full-time equivalent students.

McCain said financial reports indicated that Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (SPLOST) revenue also increased in May, but the results come after a lagging growth over the past year due to the economic recession.

He added that a bond payment is due in October, and the decline in revenues this year means the system may have to tap in to their reserve to meet the payment.

“The bond payment schedule was calculated using zero growth in SPLOST revenue back in 2007; however, the recession has taken its toll on consumer spending over the past couple of months,” he said. “Projections indicate that if the current trend holds, there will not be any other times beyond October that the system will have to go to the reserve or other revenue sources.”

The school board will finalize the budget for 2010 in a called meeting next week, which may include the approval of a millage rollback from 14.95 mills to 14.914 mills due to recent trends in population growth.

As the school board makes plans for next year, they are still waiting for feedback about last-minute budget adjustments for June. A few weeks ago, the state issued a 25 percent cut to state agencies for this month due to recent declining revenue estimates of about $274 million.

Governor Sonny Perdue withdrew the funds, although they were already designated to cover operations throughout the end of June, which is also the end of the fiscal year for local school systems.

Perdue plans to replace the funds with federal stimulus funds originally intended for 2011; however, McCain said he has not received an update on the budget adjustments that will also include an allotment sheet he must outline with expenditures for June.

In other business, the school board approved several actions for standard record keeping procedures with hopes of accommodate parents with the new effort.

The school board agreed to furnish each school with a credit card machine for next year to allow parents and students to pay for tuition and meal charges through this additional payment options. Machines will be provided by Banc Card Services, and McCain added the credit card machines can give parents the chance to pay for tuition up front instead of trying to collect it at the end of a semester.

“This system will also have the capability for parents to pay tuition and meal charges via the Internet,” he said. In addition, Utica Insurance Company has been permitted to insure property involving casualty, commercial crime and additional liability matters for the school system.

The school board approved the Bremen Educational Foundation’s request to execute an architectural contract with Southern A & E to provide architectural services for the performing arts center at the foundation’s expense.

Long-time accountant Ronnie Messimer was reappointed to handle accounting services and advisement in an effort to prepare the school board for a yearly state audit.

The Bremen High School competitive cheerleading squad has been approved to use the elementary school gym to hold practice in the fall. Cub Scout Pack No. 259 and the Girl Scouts are authorized to use two rooms at the Bremen Fourth and Fifth Grade Academy and Jones Elementary for meetings. The Fight for Life organization has also been permitted to host a benefit for Joe Liner at the BHS gym.

Bremen Middle School received nods to lease a copy machine and renew its contract with Elite Vending Company to provide vending machines at the school.

Regarding personnel, the school board approved the hiring of a science teacher at Bremen High School, a fourth-grade teacher at Bremen Academy and an after-school director to serve Bremen City Schools. Two teachers have been admitted to transfer at BMS, along with the appointment of two paraprofessionals at the middle school.

The next Bremen City School Board meeting will be held Monday, July 13, at the Board of Education Office in Bremen.