Bibb County school board members voted Tuesday night to tentatively approve a Fiscal Year 2027 budget option that would forgo staff step increases, reduce some budgeted positions and mandate a study of consolidating or closing at least two elementary schools.

The Board of Education voted 6-2 to tentatively approve Option 2 after several budget meetings and work sessions about how to address the district’s financial challenges. District leaders have spent months discussing the FY 2027 budget as Bibb County schools face rising costs, declining enrollment and long-term budget planning questions.

According to the district’s action memorandum for Tuesday’s meeting, the proposed FY 2027 budget includes $409.5 million in total revenues and transfers in across all funds, along with $443.4 million in total expenditures and transfers out. The memo says the projected ending fund balance for all budgeted funds would be $81.4 million.

Read more at WMGT41.