White County School Board members concerned about the long-term health of its School Nutrition program, with increased commodity costs taking a bite.
The fiscal year 2027 cafeteria budget includes a projected one percent deficit. Spending will increase some 4.5 percent next year. Finance Director Chad Marcum said the district has been drawing down on the cafeteria fund balance for the past two years after previously adding to it annually.
“And I would venture to guess that if you talk to any of your peers in some of the other counties around us, they are already having to have those conversations with their school nutrition funds and how they fund that,” Marcum said.
Included in the increased food costs and cost increases due to significant food service equipment purchases.
“So in about a couple years, we’re going to have a pretty tough conversation, right? If everything holds true?” School Board Member Jayson McDonald said.
Marcum said the district is ramping up the summer feeding programs to generate additional income and help stabilize the budget. Marcum said the board may eventually need to consider funding large equipment replacements through the general purpose school fund rather than the cafeteria fund.
