Franklin County Schools in good financial health with $52 million budget, up $2.5 million from FY24-25

When the new fiscal year began October 1st, the Franklin County Board of Education(FCBOE) was operating under a new $52 million budget, approved by the board at its September business meeting.

FCBOE Chief School Financial Officer Carla Knight said the budget increased from FY2024-25 by $2.5 million.

As of August 14, 2025, the system had an enrollment of 3,312 and a total workforce, including certified and support personnel, of 562. 

64% of FCBOE’s expenses are categorized as instruction and instructional support, 14% auxiliary transportation and the Child Nutrition Program, 8% in operations/maintenance, 5% capital expenses and 3% each for debt service and other expenses.

The majority of the system’s revenue funding comes from the State of Alabama (69%). Local/other revenue constitutes 19% and federal revenue comprises 12% of the total budget. 

FCBOE Greg Hamilton expressed his appreciation to Knight for her work with this year’s budget.

“I want to thank our Chief School Financial Officer for the job she’s done on a $52 million budget, and I can’t say enough about what my secretary Cyndi James does every day. They are both greatly appreciated,” Hamilton said.

The FY26 budget contains $1,000 for teachers to use at their discretion for classroom supplies. Those funds are distributed to the teachers through a program called Classwallet, the fourth year the system has used the program, which Knight said has saved tremendous time and paperwork.

The system’s PEEHIP health instruction allocation, which the board pays for employee health insurance, increased from $800/month to $904/month, for a total annual expense of $10,848 per employee.

The budget is supplemented by Advancement and Technology funds received by the system. Those funds increased to $3.8 million for the new fiscal year. They provide significant aid paying for long-term maintenance projects and expenses, Knight said.

Additionally, the board receives $139,124 in supplemental appropriation for after-school programs. Parents pay no tuition for their children to attend these.

With the addition of math coaches at three schools this year, all schools except Red Bay Elementary now have math coaches on campus. The five math coaches are primarily paid by a supplemental allocation of $450,000 received by the board this fiscal year.

A new state law, the Paid Parental Leave Act, went into effect July 1, 2025. All female FCBOE employees now receive eight weeks paid leave for birth, miscarriage or adoption. Male employees receive two weeks paid leave under the new law.

Franklin County Schools receive $976,223 in funding from the State of Alabama’s RAISE Act. The RAISE (Renewing Alabama's Investment in Student Excellence) Act is a new hybrid funding formula for Alabama's K-12 public education system designed to provide additional funding for students with high needs, such as those in poverty, English language learners, students with special needs, and gifted students. 

Approved in 2025 by the Alabama Legislature, it allocates significant state funding to help districts directly support these student groups, altering traditional foundation funding to allow schools to innovate and better address specific student needs.  

The $976,223 is an increase of $536,608 as the system now receives additional funding for at-risk, English Language Learners, gifted and special education students.

Another important revenue source for Franklin County Schools remains its share of Franklin County’s one-cent additional sales tax, approved by county voters in 2018 for an additional 30 years.  

Revenue from the additional one-cent tax is divided into thirds, with the Franklin County Commission receiving one third, and Russellville City Schools and Franklin County Schools dividing the remaining two thirds proportionately based on each system’s enrollment.