Hickman County TN

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people. Proverbs 14:34

School Board · Special Called Meeting · Apr 29, 2026

Wed, Apr 29, 2026

Hickman County Board of Education meetings, including regular sessions and special called meetings.

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Outline

Disclaimer:
This outline was created using AI based on an automatically generated transcript. The transcript and this outline is likely to contain errors, inaccuracies, or omissions. Always refer to the original audio recording if you need to verify any details or for official purposes.

Below is a detailed outline of the uploaded transcript: “April 29th, 2026 - Special Called Board Meeting.” The meeting begins with routine items and a student trip request, then moves into a long budget presentation and discussion about the proposed school budget, revenues, expenditures, staffing, fund balance, taxes, and capital needs.

Detailed Outline — April 29, 2026 Special Called School Board Meeting

I. Opening of Meeting

A. Meeting begins as a voting session

  • The meeting opens after a short delay.
  • It is described as a voting session because there are a couple of items requiring votes.
  • The board observes a moment of silence.
  • The Pledge of Allegiance is recited.

B. Agenda approval

  • Before taking up the first item, the board realizes it needs to approve the agenda.
  • A motion is made and seconded to approve the agenda for April 29.
  • The agenda is approved without apparent opposition.

II. Student Trip Request

A. East Hickman culinary / FCCLA-related trip

  • A representative speaks on behalf of Charlotte Beams, culinary instructor at East Hickman.
  • The request is for up to four students to attend a national competition in Washington, D.C.
  • The trip dates are clarified as July 6–10, correcting an error in the packet that apparently listed June 6–10.

B. Reason for the trip

  • The students qualified based on performance at an April competition in Chattanooga.
  • Two students placed second and third in baking and pastry, qualifying them to compete at the national level.
  • Two other students placed first in a public service announcement competition.
  • The PSA competition itself is not a national event, but because of their high placement, those students are eligible to compete in leadership and career activities at the national competition.

C. Cost and logistics

  • The expected cost is described as a little over $5,000.
  • Students will pay part of the fee.
  • The school system is looking for funding sources to offset the remaining cost.
  • The instructor will attend.
  • A parent wants to chaperone and will need to complete the required background check process.
  • The group will travel in the CTE van because they need to take equipment and supplies.

D. Board response

  • Board members speak positively about the group and the opportunity.
  • A motion is made and seconded to approve the trip request.
  • The request is approved without apparent opposition.

III. Beginning of Budget Discussion

A. Budget presentation setup

  • After the trip request, the meeting moves into “budget time.”
  • Handouts are distributed.
  • There is some delay due to getting the TV/display working.
  • The presenter explains that the handouts correspond to parts of the budget worksheet.

B. Framing of the budget

  • The presenter says the budget includes scenarios they are looking at.
  • A major theme is that the district is budgeting for a reasonable worst-case scenario, not necessarily what they expect to actually spend.
  • The district says it historically budgets for potential needs and then spends only what is necessary.
  • The budget being discussed is primarily an operating budget.
  • Capital projects are not included in the budget at this point.

IV. Major Budget Drivers Identified Early

A. Teacher salary minimum requirement

  • The presenter states that the district must meet a minimum teacher salary of $50,000.
  • To reach that minimum, minimum teacher pay must increase by 4.33%.
  • In past years, increases to the teacher salary scale may have been applied at every step level.
  • This year, the district did not apply the 4.33% increase across every step in the same way.
  • Adjustments were made in later years / higher steps, but some increases were significantly lower percentage-wise.
  • Salary schedules not based on the certified salary schedule were not given general increases beyond step increases.
  • Some supervisor schedules do not necessarily include step increases.

B. Medical insurance costs

  • The district reviewed projected 2026 medical benefit expenditures.
  • The district provides 70% of insurance premiums for family, employee-spouse, and employee-children coverage.
  • For certified staff who do not participate in the insurance program, up to $7,900 is available.
  • Certified staff also have $3,900 that can be applied through American Fidelity.
  • Non-certified staff have $2,000 available for similar benefit use.

C. Current staffing level used in draft

  • The initial personnel budget reflects the district’s current level of personnel in Fund 141.
  • The presenter says there may be things that need to be addressed as the budget is refined.

D. Five additional budgeted teaching positions

  • In the teacher line item, the budget includes five additional budgeted positions.

  • These are included as a cushion for possible needs such as:

    • unexpected enrollment changes,
    • grade-level class-size ratio issues,
    • teachers going on leave,
    • unanticipated needs during the year.

  • The presenter explains that even 5 to 10 new students in August can push a grade level out of ratio and require an additional teacher.

  • These positions are not necessarily expected to be filled; they are included as a planning scenario.

V. Retirement and Benefit Cost Pressures

A. Certified retirement

  • The presenter notes increases in state retirement costs.
  • About half of teachers are said to still be on the legacy retirement program, though an exact count was not available at the meeting.
  • The legacy contribution rate increased from 5.77% to 6.35%.
  • The hybrid program remains at 9%.
  • Employees hired after approximately 2015 are described as being on the hybrid program.
  • The presenter praises TCRS plans as well-funded and safe.

B. Non-certified retirement

  • The non-certified retirement rate increased to 13.37%.
  • The previous year it was 12.09%.
  • The year before that it was 11.39%.
  • This increase is identified as another personnel-related budget pressure.

VI. Textbooks and Technology Replacement

A. Textbook adoption cycle

  • The textbook line item is increased by $175,000.
  • The budgeted textbook amount is brought to $325,000 for the year.
  • Over the next two years, the district anticipates spending roughly $650,000 to $700,000 on textbooks.
  • This is due to the textbook adoption cycle.
  • The presenter notes this is a major purchase the district has not had to include in the budget over the last few years.

B. Chromebook / device replacement

  • The district used federal COVID-related dollars to reach one-to-one device status.
  • Now the district must fund replacement devices annually.
  • The plan is to budget for roughly 300 to 400 Chromebooks per year, with about 400 budgeted.
  • The presenter clarifies that budgeting for 400 does not mean they will automatically purchase 400.
  • Purchases will be based on need.
  • The replacement cycle is estimated at around 7 to 8 years.

VII. Operating Budget Philosophy

A. “Reasonable worst-case scenario”

  • The presenter repeatedly frames the budget as a reasonable worst-case scenario.
  • They compare it with a likely scenario based on prior-year revenue and expenditure patterns.
  • The stated practice is to budget for possible needs but spend only what is needed.

B. Budget versus actual spending

  • The district says it does not operate like some government entities that spend everything budgeted to preserve future funding.
  • The presenter says this is why the district often comes in under budget in certain line items.

C. Volatile costs

  • Utilities and transportation fuels are highlighted as volatile areas.
  • The district exceeded some current-year fuel budget line items and expected budget amendments for diesel and gasoline.
  • Forecasts changed significantly between February and the time of the meeting, requiring higher planning numbers.
  • The presenter says less cushion remains in some budget lines than in the past.

VIII. Revenue Overview and TISA Funding

A. Initial TISA estimate

  • The March TISA estimate for the state portion was about $25,038,237.
  • That represented an increase of about $329,000 from final TISA for 2025.
  • The initial budget used this March estimate.

B. Projected deficit

  • The FY2027 budgeted expenditures and revenues initially show a deficit of about $5.9 million.

  • The presenter emphasizes that the $5.9 million is not what they expect to actually run unless something terrible happens.

  • The presenter says this number is probably high and will be revisited before the following Monday meeting.

  • Based on current projection, the district expects to hit fund balance by around $2 million for the current year.

  • The presenter notes that the district has hit fund balance the last two years:

    • about $1.275 million last year,
    • about $653,000 the year before.

  • Some of the reason prior fund-balance hits were not larger was because federal / other dollars offset some salary line items.

C. ESSER / federal COVID money

  • The district had roughly $10 million across three ESSER funding levels.

  • Those dollars helped address:

    • personnel needs,
    • HVAC units,
    • sewer line problems,
    • doors and windows,
    • air handlers,
    • other infrastructure.

  • The presenter explains that these were items that otherwise would have had to be addressed through Fund 141.

  • This is a key background point: costs that had been covered outside the regular operating budget may now be returning to local budget pressure.

IX. April TISA Estimate and Economic Capacity Issue

A. April estimate was worse than March

  • The presenter says they received the April TISA estimate and that it was not positive news.
  • ADM was listed at 2,850.83.
  • There was a reduction of about 5.43 ADM.
  • ADM is explained as average daily membership, essentially enrolled students.

B. TISA base increase

  • The TISA base increased from $7,280 to $7,530.
  • The presenter emphasizes that this base is not simply state dollars; it is a combined state and local base.

C. Categories within TISA

  • The presenter references several TISA categories, including:

    • ADM,
    • concentrated poverty,
    • sparse county funding,
    • special education,
    • dyslexia,
    • English language learners,
    • CTE,
    • direct funding.

D. TISA runs a year behind

  • The presenter explains that current-year student/service numbers are used for next year’s funding.
  • The following year’s numbers then help determine funding for the year after that.

E. Reduction from March to April

  • There was about a $40,000 to $41,000 reduction in TISA funds compared with the March estimate.
  • However, the greater impact came from updated TACIR / CBER fiscal capacity calculations.

F. Fiscal capacity / economic capacity

  • The presenter explains that the state uses two calculations:

    • one through the Boyd Center for Business at the University of Tennessee,
    • one through the Tennessee Advisory Commission on Intergovernmental Relations.

  • These are averaged to determine fiscal capacity.

  • Hickman County’s FY27 fiscal capacity is shown as about 0.15%, but the presenter says the more exact figure is 0.145868544%.

  • The change from March was only 0.003717% numerically, but it still reduced the state estimate significantly.

  • The presenter says that a very small change in economic capacity created about a $140,000 hit.

  • The new state portion estimate is about $25,022,934.28.

  • That is about $144,726.56 less than the March estimate.

  • So instead of being about $329,000 more than the prior year, the increase is now closer to about $180,000.

X. Property Tax / Reappraisal Discussion

A. Reappraisal year

  • The presenter says this was a reappraisal / recertification year.
  • Many property owners received notices that their values increased.
  • The presenter explains that while values went up, the “pennies” went down and the value of each penny went up.

B. Penny value

  • The penny is expected to be worth 84.191.
  • The school system’s portion based on the prior year’s percentage is discussed as 33.69, described as roughly 19-something percent of the available property tax pennies.

C. Property tax budgeting at 93%

  • Property tax is budgeted at 93%.
  • The presenter says the district does not control that budgeted number.
  • In good years, collections may approach 100%, meaning actual revenues exceed budget.
  • Delinquent taxes may come in later and are also reflected in revenue estimates.

XI. Expenditure Pages and Fund Comparisons

A. Comparisons across fiscal years

  • The presenter compares FY22, FY23, FY24, FY25, FY26, and FY27 information.
  • He clarifies that some grants were pulled out of older-year comparisons because those grants are not currently available.
  • ISM and many grants are excluded except those that come through TISA.
  • Voluntary Pre-K is included as an estimate because exact dollars were not yet available.

B. Current staffing assumptions

  • The budget takes current staffing into account.
  • The presenter says that does not necessarily mean actual staffing expenditures will remain at the budgeted level.
  • They currently anticipate a reduction of about 2.5 teaching positions, with potential for more.

XII. “Grow Your Own” Program

A. Existing commitments

  • The district has three current employees finishing the Grow Your Own program.
  • The district is required to provide them teaching positions for the next three years.
  • The presenter says they currently do not have to add positions to place them, because of attrition.

B. Program paused

  • The district is pausing new Grow Your Own participants for the year.
  • Two cohorts are still going through the program.
  • The pause does not mean the district is ending the program permanently.
  • The concern is that if staffing reductions are needed, required placements could force the district to add positions that are not needed.
  • Otherwise, the district may have to refund associated program dollars.

XIII. Instructional Programs

A. Regular Instruction — 71100

  • This is one of the largest budget areas.
  • Personnel is the largest expenditure.
  • It includes teachers and educational assistants.
  • Five additional teacher positions are budgeted as a cushion.
  • Educational assistants are budgeted with some room for immediate needs, especially where special education needs arise.

B. Career ladder

  • The career ladder program is discussed as an older program started under Governor Lamar Alexander.
  • The number of teachers who qualify for it is slowly declining, so the line item is declining.

C. Salary supplements

  • Salary supplements cover athletics, extracurriculars, clubs, and similar activities.

  • Differentiated pay includes:

    • LOE bonuses,
    • hard-to-fill position bonuses,
    • certain bookkeeper-related payments,
    • foster care liaison-related pay.

  • LOE bonuses are said to be over $200,000 annually, paid to teachers scoring 4 or 5.

D. Textbooks

  • Textbook budget increases are reiterated:

    • $325,000 budgeted this year,
    • about $650,000 expected over the next two years.

XIV. Alternative School

A. Staffing

  • Alternative school has three teacher positions budgeted.
  • The district currently has three teachers operating there.
  • The presenter says this is not necessarily a “have to,” but they are continuing to budget it.
  • A tutor / foreign teacher is also involved to help with specific academic needs.
  • About $15,000 is tied to that tutoring support.
  • One educational assistant is also budgeted.

B. Insurance budget differences

  • Some medical insurance increases show up because prior budgets were based on earlier participation.
  • Employees may have started participating later, requiring higher budget amounts for the next year.

XV. Special Education Instruction

A. FTE explanation

  • The presenter explains that personnel figures are full-time equivalents, not exact headcounts.
  • Some employees split time between regular instruction and special education.
  • Example: someone could be 0.5 FTE in SPED and 0.5 FTE in regular education.

B. Budgeted SPED personnel

  • Special education instruction includes:

    • about 33 FTEs,
    • 23 educational assistant FTEs,
    • 2 speech pathologists budgeted in that line item.

  • A third speech pathologist is funded through federal IDEA Part B dollars.

C. Contracted services

  • The district contracts with agencies and individuals for some services.
  • Speech pathologists are difficult to employ.
  • Other contracted services have increased substantially over the last few years.
  • The presenter says the district is trying to address this, but rising needs and costs have required outside contracting.
  • Contracting has some benefit because the district is not paying insurance and other employment-related costs for those providers.

XVI. Career and Technical Education — CTE

A. Personnel

  • CTE has 14 FTE positions in the current budget.
  • The district expects to be at 13.
  • The budget was initially set based on current employment.

B. TISA and CTE participation

  • CTE participation affects TISA funding.
  • The district has greatly expanded CTE participation.
  • The presenter notes that scheduling details can affect funding; even five minutes in a schedule can change the amount received.

C. Dual enrollment / TCAT

  • TCAT dual enrollment funds are not budgeted up front because the district does not know what they will be.
  • This year’s TCAT funding was about $128,000.
  • Some funds go back into CTE dual enrollment classrooms.
  • Teachers receive stipends or payments per student from TCAT.
  • Other funds support instructional supplies and materials.

D. CTE equipment

  • An “other equipment” line item exists to address needs that arise during the year.
  • This year, much of that funding was used for culinary countertops.

E. Non-personnel decrease

  • A board member asks about a decrease of around $78,000 in non-personnel.
  • The explanation is that about $58,000 was tied to TCAT dollars that came in through a budget amendment, but those dollars are not budgeted up front for the next year because they are not guaranteed.

XVII. Attendance and Student Information Systems

A. Attendance director / safety role

  • The attendance director also handles part of the safety program.
  • The budget shows the full position, but the district expects to pay about 30% of the position from federal programs because of safety responsibilities.
  • The 141 budget is expected to cover about 70%.

B. SIS administrator

  • The student information system administrator is also in the attendance area.

C. Skyward / Synergy shift

  • Some costs previously associated with Skyward are being moved out of attendance.
  • The district is moving to Synergy over the next five years.
  • The presenter says those costs fit better under other student support because the system is broader than attendance.

XVIII. Health Services

A. Programs and personnel

  • Health services includes:

    • coordinated school health,
    • social workers,
    • nurses,
    • medical personnel.

  • The budget includes:

    • eight nurses,
    • one supervisor,
    • two social workers on the 141 side.

  • The district currently has three social workers, but one is funded through a grant that will expire.

B. Contracted nurse substitutes

  • Some contracted services dollars are used to contract with nurses as substitutes when regular nurses are out.

C. Revenue stream

  • The district receives some revenue by billing the State of Tennessee for certain medical services.
  • The presenter says it is not a huge revenue stream but could grow over time.

XIX. Other Student Support

A. Guidance and administrative personnel

  • This area includes guidance personnel and two administrative-type positions.
  • Some personnel have historically been budgeted here even if they do not fit neatly into one category.

B. Testing software

  • Evaluation and testing shows a significant increase.

  • Some testing software has been moved from regular instruction to other student support because it fits better there.

  • Programs mentioned include:

    • AIMSweb,
    • MasteryConnect.

XX. Support Services

A. Regular Instruction Support — 72210

  • This includes support for regular instruction rather than direct instruction.

  • Personnel includes:

    • deputy director,
    • librarians,
    • school secretaries,
    • bookkeepers,
    • at least one central office position.

B. Library/media and contracted services

  • Includes library books and media.
  • Some remaining SIS costs are here.
  • Interpreter contracts are included for situations where language interpretation is needed for parents, guardians, or the public.

C. Special Education Support

  • Includes:

    • supervisors,
    • psychologists,
    • occupational therapists.

  • Some psychologists are funded through 141 and some through federal 142 funds.

  • Other contracted services are moved here if they are SPED-related but not instructional.

XXI. Board, Director, Principals, and Administration

A. Board line item

  • Includes:

    • board compensation,
    • training,
    • medical benefits,
    • audit services,
    • dues and memberships,
    • liability insurance,
    • workers’ compensation,
    • trustee commission.

B. Director of schools

  • Includes the director’s salary.

  • Includes two administrative assistants:

    • human resources,
    • another assistant working directly with the director.

C. Office of the principal

  • Includes school-level administration:

    • principals,
    • assistant principals,
    • two full-time athletic directors at the high schools.

  • Athletic directors are described as under the principals and not instructional personnel.

XXII. Transportation, Food Service, Community Services, and Pre-K

A. Transportation

  • Transportation includes salary and benefit items, plus fuel-related line items.
  • A small fringe benefit is mentioned for bus drivers: if they go a month without needing a substitute driver, they receive an extra $4 per day.
  • Diesel and gasoline costs are volatile and require budget amendments.

B. Food service

  • Fund 141 pays half of the food service supervisor’s salary.

C. Community services

  • Community services refers to the family resource centers.

  • There is one at each end of the county.

  • They support programs such as:

    • Operation Christmas,
    • Friday Friends,
    • food-related assistance,
    • clothing assistance,
    • other support functions.

  • These programs report to the state.

  • Funding used to come as a separate grant but is now described as part of TISA.

D. Early childhood / voluntary Pre-K

  • Early childhood refers to voluntary Pre-K.
  • Estimated expenditure dollars are included.
  • Adjustments may be needed once the actual grant/funding plan is available.

XXIII. Revenue Discussion

A. Revenue side begins

  • The presenter eventually shifts from expenditures to revenues.
  • The transcript includes discussion of budgeted revenues versus actual revenues.

B. Sales tax

  • Sales tax is discussed as a volatile revenue source.

  • The presenter says sales tax has been strong for several reasons:

    • inflation,
    • COVID-era dollars flowing into the county,
    • strong recent economic conditions.

  • But sales tax could decline in an economic downturn.

  • A board member raises concern that leaders need to remove confusion for the public and commissioners.

  • The point is made that this year is unusual because expenditures are rising and COVID dollars are gone, leaving a gap that did not previously need to be filled.

XXIV. Fund Balance and Budget Communication

A. Concern about hitting fund balance

  • The district expects to hit fund balance again.
  • Prior years also drew from fund balance.
  • The presenter stresses that the full budgeted deficit is not the likely actual deficit, but fund balance usage remains a concern.

B. Need to communicate clearly

  • A board member says confused people do nothing, and doing nothing can be a bad decision.

  • The board discusses the need to clearly communicate with:

    • the public,
    • county commissioners,
    • constituents.

C. “Unique year” argument

  • The argument made in the meeting is that this is a unique budget year because:

    • COVID/ESSER funds are gone,
    • costs are increasing,
    • state funding estimates changed,
    • local economic capacity reduced state support,
    • prior offsets are no longer available,
    • capital needs still exist outside the operating budget.

XXV. Proposed Ask from County / Tax Rate Discussion

A. Discussion of school share of property tax

  • The discussion turns to whether the school system should ask the county commission for additional revenue.
  • The current school portion is discussed as having gone from around 33.45 / 33.69 cents to a lower share after reappraisal.
  • A proposal is discussed to move from about 19.55% of property tax to 25.15%.
  • This is described as roughly equivalent to 13 cents.

B. Would 13 cents solve everything?

  • The answer given is no.
  • It would not take care of the entire deficit.
  • But it would slow the deficit and make it manageable for more years.

C. County commission pressure

  • Board members acknowledge that commissioners face pressure from many departments.
  • There is discussion that commissioners may respond by saying the school system already receives half the sales tax.
  • One speaker suggests some commissioners may not fully understand the issue.
  • The board concludes they need to make their case clearly.

XXVI. Capital Projects Discussion

A. Capital projects are not included in operating budget

  • The presenter emphasizes that the conversation so far has been about the operating budget.
  • Capital projects have not been included.
  • Some possibility is discussed that the county could pay for some capital projects directly.
  • That would provide dollars without increasing maintenance of effort.
  • However, it would not address the operating deficit or debt issue.

B. Approximate annual capital budgeting

  • There is discussion that the district has often budgeted approximately $1 million per year for capital projects.
  • But the current budget under discussion does not include those capital projects.

C. Tennis courts

  • Tennis courts at both ends of the county are discussed.
  • Full resurfacing/replacement quotes were about $300,000 each.
  • This would include filling cracks, leveling, and resurfacing.
  • The presenter says the tennis courts need to be dealt with because of playing surface quality and cracking.

D. East Hickman High School floor

  • The floor at East Hickman High School is mentioned.
  • The district has not yet decided whether it needs full replacement or partial repair.

E. Athletic fields and drainage

  • Baseball field / football field drainage issues are mentioned.
  • Elevation costs or evaluation work has been discussed.

F. Bleachers

  • High school basketball bleachers are discussed.
  • They have been repaired or topped before.
  • There are issues with scratches and mechanisms.
  • Full replacement would be a significant cost.
  • Hickman County High School’s floor is also mentioned as having little or no sanding life left and needing to be addressed in the next few years.

G. Paving

  • Paving was not included this year because costs are high.
  • The district had done some paving and patching in prior years when prices were better.

H. Need to communicate reality

  • Near the end, a board member says the district needs to communicate the reality of the situation to constituents and commissioners.
  • The phrase used is essentially that it may not matter how they got there; they are there now.
  • The point is that something positive or negative is going to happen in the next few years depending on how the issue is handled.

XXVII. End-of-Meeting Direction

A. Question about what to prepare for Monday

  • The presenter asks what the board wants included in the Monday night budget.
  • Specifically, the question is whether to include the roughly 13-cent ask.
  • Board members discuss whether a formal vote is needed that night.

B. General direction

  • The discussion suggests that the school board is considering asking the county commission for an increase equivalent to roughly 13 cents, bringing the school portion back to around 25%.
  • The stated reason is not that it solves the entire deficit, but that it slows the drawdown and makes the situation manageable for more years.

Major Themes Running Through the Transcript

1. The district says this is a “reasonable worst-case” budget

The school system repeatedly says it budgets for possible needs and does not necessarily spend everything budgeted. This matters because the stated deficit number may not equal the actual year-end deficit.

2. The budget gap is real, even if the worst-case deficit may be overstated

The presenter says the $5.9 million deficit is not what they expect to run, but also says the district has hit fund balance in recent years and may hit it again.

3. ESSER / COVID money masked or delayed regular budget pressures

Federal dollars covered personnel and capital/infrastructure items. Those expenses now have to be handled through regular local/state funding sources.

4. Personnel costs dominate the budget

Teacher pay, retirement, insurance, substitutes, staffing ratios, and required positions are central to the budget pressure.

5. Some costs are mandatory or hard to avoid

Examples include minimum teacher salary, retirement rates, insurance obligations, special education services, and certain textbook adoption cycles.

6. Some costs appear discretionary or policy-driven

Examples include optional student travel, supplements, certain programs, additional budgeted positions, CTE equipment cushions, and capital choices. These are the areas where citizens may ask whether all spending has been prioritized before requesting more revenue.

7. Property reassessment complicates public understanding

The meeting acknowledges that residents may panic when assessed values rise, but the certified tax rate and penny value change. The discussion around pennies, percentages, and the 13-cent equivalent will need to be explained clearly.

8. The board is preparing to make a case to the county commission

There is an explicit recognition that commissioners face many competing funding requests, and the school board needs to communicate clearly.

9. Capital needs are still looming

Even if the operating budget is addressed, capital needs such as tennis courts, floors, bleachers, drainage, and paving remain unresolved.

10. The central policy question is how much more local revenue to request

The transcript appears to move toward the idea of asking for roughly 13 cents more, not to solve everything, but to slow the deficit and extend the fund balance.