Mount Airy City School officials report a recent audit by the Dixon Hughes Goodman firm found no significant difficulties with the district being found as being fiscally responsible.

“The bottom line for me is that managing our funds responsibly means teachers and student have what they need in the classroom,” said schools finance officer Donna Bryant. “This audit showed we were successful in that and this is what it’s all about.”

Mount Airy School Superintendent Greg Little credited Bryant’s efforts as helping the system not only keeping track of funding, but knowing exactly where it is, enabling them to be good stewards.

“A good audit doesn’t happen by accident. Communication is good with our financial officers at the school level as well. There has never been so great a challenge with declining funding,” explained Little. “Fewer people are doing more work. Our community demands and expects a high quality education regardless of the budget and we are going to give that to them.” He also forecast at least a 10 percent decrease in federal money next year.

Little said the district is unsure where state and local budgets will be next year as well. He said economic recovery is happening but it will probably be a slow process.

“We have navigated really well on our last two budgets,” added Little. “It has been difficult but I feel me maximized our dollars spent.”

According to Bryant, the city schools general and special revenue funds as of June 30 were $ 3,539,064. Total expenditures were $3,303,280 for a net total of $235,784. Revenue for June 2011 were $3,576,925 with total expenditures that year $3,163,750.

Mount Airy City Schools federal grants fund revenues from June amounted to $1,967,385 with total expenditures exactly matching that amount. In June of 2011 federal grants revenues and expenditures were $2,473,006. The revenues and expenditures for the district’s state public school fund were $9,677,646. In comparison, revenue and expenditures for 2011 in this category were $9,255,566.

The school food service fund, as of June 30 had a total of $1,169,930 in revenue and a total of expenses of $1,185285. Capital contributions required were $38,457 which left the food service fund with a net income of $23,102. The food service fund revenues were $1,136,971 as of June 30, 2011 and expenses were $1,082,135.

Little said the district is attempting to make its federal, state and local revenues work together and said examples of this are the addition of art in grades K-5, and early literacy support programs for students.

“It’s just like everyone’s personal lives in this economy,” said Bryant. “There has not been any extra money. For example state funds and federal funds are earmarked specifically on how and where they can be used. Our first step is to listen to parent focus groups and teachers’ input so we can know our priorities.”

Little said the district has found out it cannot do everything so what they can do must be the best possible for students.

Reach David Broyles at dbroyles@heartlandpublications.com or 719-1952.