Lincoln County School District officialsapproved a budget plan for 2011-12 with a total expenditures pricetag of $33.4 million on Tuesday at a special board meeting.

    Although total revenues of the budget amount to just over $24.2million, creating a deficiency of over $9 million, SuperintendentTerry Brister explained that there is no concern because of thedistrict’s expenditure record in recent years.

    “We’ve lived within our means for so long that it doesn’t hurt us,”Brister said.

    Business Manager Cheryl Shelby said that some of the expenditureremainder is partly from a fund balance.

    “That’s basically money in the bank,” Shelby said.

    Capital projects, which amount to $8.3 million of the budget, are alarge part of what has been factored into expenditures, accordingto Shelby.

    Shelby explained several capital projects could be initiated aswell as some that need to be completed. Those include finishing thenext phase of the football stadium at Loyd Star Attendance Center,rebuilding classrooms there and getting rid of the old footballstadium to free up space for possibly additional parking or newclassroom projects.

    Another project may include new batting cages for the Bogue ChittoLady Cats softball teams.

    “They won state championships again this year,” Shelby said.

    Brister clarified that the budget will have no immediate impact onclassrooms or students, and that things will stay the same so farin that respect.

    When asked if there would be salary increases for teachers, Bristersaid that no additional funds from the district will be used forthat this year.

    “Just the yearly supplements that the state gives,” Bristersaid.

    In other business at the meeting, board members approved personnelmatters concerning certified or non-certified recommendations forthe 2011-12 school year.

    They approved a child nutritional request and the use of activityfunds at Bogue Chitto to spend on student functions and activitieslike homecoming and graduation.