Deficit reduced, Limestone dispute static, Fowler says

Dr. Dee O. Fowler, Superintendent of Madison City Schools. CONTRIBUTED

MADISON – On June 27, Superintendent Dr. Dee O. Fowler released an update about the financial situation of Madison City Schools and the ongoing issue of education taxes for families in Madison within Limestone County.

Summarizing the scenario, Fowler reiterated that Madison City Schools has adopted a deficit budget for the 2015-2016 school year. “We began the year budgeting $700,000 more in expenditures than revenues … the first time in our 18 years that we had adopted a budget in the red,” he said.

Madison City Schools faces “the loss of $1.7 million because we received neither Madison County nor Limestone County countywide ad valorem taxes or countywide sale taxes for our 1600-plus Madison City, Limestone County students,” Fowler said. “The $2.4-million deficit was not acceptable and changes had to be made and quickly.”

“We have ‘made-up’ the original $700,000 deficit … in our budget amendment that was approved by the board on June 9,” Fowler said. On the budget, he referred to “Excess Revenues & Other Sources Over (Under) Expenditures & Other Fund Uses.” (Visit madisoncity.k12.al.us and click “Business/Finance.”)

“We were able to account for the original $700,000 shortfall by employing several different strategies (energy savings and a bond refinancing to name a couple) and with some good luck with the economy along the way,” Fowler said. “We are still in the red for the $1.7 million, but we wanted you to know that we are working hard to be good stewards of your money; all-the-while offering the best education that we possibly can.”

Meanwhile, the school system’s growth continues, particularly in Madison within Limestone County. “As we open the 2016-2017 school year, at least one of our schools will have portables,” Fowler said. MCS staff is reviewing zoning policies and has asked Madison City Council to suspend any residential annexations in Limestone County until Limestone funding issues are resolved.

“We have reached a point in our budget where, without relief from additional revenue, additional adjustments have to be made. I hope soon … to share some of the cuts that we will propose for next year’s budget to offset the $1.7-million loss,” Fowler said.

For information, call 256-464-8370 or email fowler@madisoncity.k12.al.us.