Highland Officials Eye Court Fight To Block Repaying State $887,000 For Matching Grant Shortfall
Highland County officials are wondering if they can fight the state in court to block a required repayment of more than $887,000 due to a school matching grant spending shortfall.
The issue of legal action arose during a July 1st Highland County Board of Supervisors meeting after County School Board Chairman Jason Wilfong said preliminary estimates set the county’s payback amount at $887,617.65.
That estimated dollar amount was set in late June, following a review of the school system’s FY23 and FY24 annual financial reports. Those reports were revised and resubmitted to the state, Wilfong said.
The purported shortfall, Wilfong explained, involves state Standard Of Quality Grants, or SOQ funds, which are used only for educational purposes, as well as teacher and school employee salaries and benefits. SOQ dollars that go unspent in a school year must be repaid by a school system, according to state law.
Even though the state maintains Highland County Schools failed to spend $467,455, state law requires the school system to repay the state’s 20 percent and the school’s 80 percent grant match as well for a total of more than $887,000.
“The law, is the law, is the law,” Wilfong said, quoting two state legislators and Governor’s Office staffers, who he spoke with in his attempt to get some relief. It will stay that way, he added, until the state’s school funding formula is changed.
Board Vice Chairman Paul Trible raised the issue of legal action, asking Highland County Attorney Julian Harf if “there is a legal path to fight the state on this.”
Harf explained he would be happy to look into it, saying, “The idea of a windfall for the state doesn’t make sense to me.”
Wilfong agreed with Harf, adding he would support the county taking legal action. “I’ll stand right up there with you. I’ll fight right beside you,” Wilfong told them.
Board members and Wilfong decided Harf and the school system’s attorney should meet to discuss what legal options might be taken.
More than a week after the supervisors meeting, Highland County Administrator Jerri Botkin issued a two-sentence email response on July 11th. When asked if the county was moving forward to fight the repayment in court, Botkin confirmed Harf was looking into the matter, adding, “There is no additional information at t
Story By
