photo by Susan Kirkland
Murray County Superintendent Steve Loughridge (left) and Chairman of the BOE Greg Shoemaker at Monday’s meeting. The board is considering a $62.5 million budget.

The Murray County Board of Education proposed  $62.5 million dollar budget for the fiscal year 2020-2021. Superintendent Steve Loughridge said they can still make changes to the budget, but needed to have one to advertise. The budget has to be presented twice before being voted on and will be presented at the August 6 work session. It will be voted on during the August 10 regular meeting. The budget includes four furlough days for teachers.

Because the budget won’t be voted on until August 10, the board voted to pass another spending resolution, which allows the system to spend 1/12th of the previous year’s budget to make payroll and pay bills until a budget is approved.

The board anticipates total revenues of $55,482,227.20 from local taxes, state, and federal funding. They have planned for not receiving State Quality Basic Education Local Fair Share funds, or QBE, which totals $5,158,293.00. Learn more about QBE at their website.

The board also anticipated not having the formula adjustment of $4,021,683.00.The system should receive the traditional state QBE of $44,776,710.

TRENDING NOW: MURRAY COUNTY ANNOUNCES SEPT. 8 START DAY. READ HERE.

The largest expenses to the budget include instruction, which will run $41,869,956.72 or 66.9-percent.

Expenses total $62,530,628.72, or $7,048,401.55 over the anticipated revenues. The school system, as of July 1, 2020 had a General Fund balance of $14,000,000. The anticipated ending balance for June 30, 2021 is $6,951,598.45.

The board also approved spending $15,232 on K-12th grade software to assist with the upcoming school year. Part of that purchase includes virtual registration.

“The 800-pages of paperwork they you fill out every year by hand can be done online,” said Loughridge. “I believe it’s worth the additional cost.”

The additional cost for that option was $1,000. He said the registration center will still be open for those who rather use it.

Doug Griffin honored

Photo by Susan Kirkland
Murray County Superintendent Steve Loughridge, Chairman of the Board of Education Greg Shoemaker, hold the sign for Doug Griffin Dr., with the late superintendents family. Pictured from left: Loughridge, Shoemaker, June Griffin, Anne Childers, and Rhett Griffin. Back row: Billy Childers and Sandy Griffin. The board also voted to name the road running between Gladden Middle School and the Transportation Department as “Doug Griffin Road” after long-time superintendent of Murray County Schools. Griffin passed away recently and the proclamation was attended by his widow, June, and children. Griffin was the last superintendent to be elected and served a total of 16 years being elected in 1972, 1976, and 1980. He coached football and girls basketball. In 1965, the Lady Indians, under his guidance, won the Class AA state title. He died on June 23 at the age of 88. View his obituary here.