Houston County School Board Holds First Budget Hearing for 2025–2026 Fiscal Year
By Rachel Reniva
The Houston County School Board held its first of two required public budget hearings for the 2025–2026 school year on Tuesday at the Houston County Career Academy.
The next meeting will coincide with the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, at 5 p.m., 662 W Main St, Dothan, AL 36301.
This was the in-depth discussion about what the Superintendent, Brandy White, and the Chief Financial Officer, Kerry Bedsole, have planned for the upcoming school year.
A primary topic of discussion was a 9% decrease in federal funding compared to the previous year. Despite the reduction, officials emphasized that essential services, such as those mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)—must still be fully funded.
Overall, the utilities expenses are estimated to decrease by $175K, with much thanks to the principals of the schools and staff policing themselves to conserve their energy usage.
These meetings are open to the public, and if you want to see how your taxes are spent, I’d encourage you to attend your local School Board and Council meetings. There is also a YouTube video of the meeting uploaded on the Dale County Chronicle YouTube channel for your own viewing. Be sure to subscribe to the YouTube channel and follow Dale County Chronicle for more Wiregrass news and updates.
You can watch video from the meeting on the Dale County Chronicle’s YouTube Channel by clicking the following link: https://youtu.be/1EjhxlUCUrc?si=ru9ZRbjsj7-Dw8dn
