GALLATIN, Tenn. -
The Sumner County School system has an extra $3.2 million that no one knew about until recently.
"It was brought to our attention that $3.2 million of rollover money was now on the revenue side of the budget," explained County Commissioner Jim Vaughn.
He said he believes the money is proof that the school board acted hastily when making the decision to keep schools closed at the beginning of the year.
"So if we would have just held off and determined how much money was left in the coffers we might have been able to forgo any of the school closings," Vaughn said.
According to Jeremy Johnson with Sumner County schools, the system just recently finished finalizing last year's books when the money was discovered.
"At every point in this budget process we have told our county commission, told our school board that we were in the process of finalizing last year's books and until we finalized last years books we don't know what kind of carryover we have," Johnson explained.
Johnson told Nashville's News 2 the money represents just 1% of the school system's total budget.
The school system said they no idea that they would have an overflow from last year.
The money did not come to light until after the decision was made to delay the start of school.
Sumner County students started the 2012-2013 school year more than eight days late due to the battle over the budget.
Previous Stories:
- August 21, 2012: School board approves budget for Sumner County
- August 20, 2012: Sumner County reconsiders wheel tax increase
- August 15, 2012: Sumner County students, teachers ready to return to class
- August 14, 2012: School to start Thursday in Sumner County
- August 13, 2012: Sumner County parents ask for tax hike
- August 12, 2012: Sumner County businesses rally to support school system
- August 10, 2012: Emergency meeting called to discuss Sumner County school budget
- August 9, 2012: Parents flood school board meeting to discuss Sumner County budget
- August 8, 2012: Sumner County sits on unused money, Schools remain closed
- August 8, 2012: School funding stalemate drags on in Sumner County
- August 7, 2012: Sumner County's delayed school year could affect sports teams
- August 6, 2012: Still no start date for schools in Sumner County
- August 5, 2012: Sumner County parents to rally in response to closed schools
- August 2, 2012: Sumner County school year delayed until budget reached
- July 16, 2012: Sumner County Commission wants school budget cut
