THOMASVILLE, Ga. — The city schools system is hammering down the details for next school year’s budget. 

Thomasville City Schools finance committee members met Tuesday and discussed preliminary budget figures for the 2019 fiscal year. 

For 2019, the city school system is projecting approximately $27.6 million in expenses and approximately $26.3 million in revenues. The school district is estimating a deficit of more than $1.2 million.

Mary Townsend, city schools director of finance, pointed out expenses that would decrease the system’s fund balance. 

Potential big-ticket expenses include more than $797,000 for new positions and salary increases and more than $125,000 for four additional school resource officers.  

School board members also raised questions regarding $50,000 in bonuses for athletic staff. 

Dr. Hazel Jones said the school board should know where the funds for bonuses come from. 

“We’re held accountable,” she said. “Going forward, we must be knowledgable.” 

Board Chairman Chris Rodd said there were increases in revenues from city schools sporting events. 

“That was the basis of giving some type of performance-based bonuses,” he said. “We’re not outside the budget we approved.”  

Superintendent Dr. Laine Reichert said the bonuses were dispersed, except for the spring sports.

The bonuses, Reichert said, were given to coaches based on successful stints in playoffs. 

“It’s a percentage of their supplement,” she added. 

The city schools athletic committee discussed late last year incentives for coaches whose teams advance in competition. 

Committee members also noted a $136,843 expense to Source4Teachers, the program used for substitute teachers. 

Reichert attributed the amount to the number of teachers out earlier this year because of the flu and for professional learning days. 

“This year has been an exceptionally bad year,” Reichert said of teacher absences.  

The school district is anticipating the expense to Source4Teachers to “drastically decrease next year,” the superintendent said. 

Other expenses listed were $62,837 for health insurance increase for classified staff, $60,874 for new software and $36,000 for a pre-kindergarten program deficit. Another expense is $15,000 for adding more professional learning days.  

The city tax digest hasn’t been released, committee members noted.

“We’ll know early August if the tax digest is changing,” Reichert said. 

Reichert said Tuesday school officials are still working on the details for the upcoming budget before final approval. 

Reporter Jordan Barela can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1826.