Thursday, the Andalusia Board of Education approved a nearly $16 million operating budget for the 2010 fiscal year, which begins Oct. 1.

That budget will more than likely be prorated later this year, due to a decrease in the sales and income tax revenues that fund the state’s education system. Jean Sellers, chief financial officer for the Andalusia City Schools, said the approved budget assumes 6 percent proration, but it is likely the final cuts will be even higher.

ACS is projected to receive $8.9 million from the state of Alabama in the 2010 fiscal year, assuming 6 percent proration. This is a significant decrease from the 2008 fiscal year, when ACS received $9.5 million from the state.

The system’s state revenues would be even lower this year if it were not for federal funds from the stimulus package. ACS is receiving a little less than $410,000 through the state’s Fiscal Stabilization Fund — this is stimulus money that must be spent over the two-year period of fiscal year 2010-2011.

The total of 2010 revenues for ACS is $15.96 million, which breaks down as follows: 55.74 percent state revenues, 20.06 percent federal revenues, 16.34 percent local tax revenues, 2.93 percent local school revenues, 2.13 percent other local revenues and 2.81 percent other revenues.

The system’s expenditures are expected to be slightly less than revenues, but that $56,000 will then be used to pay off long-term debt. The system also projects a general fund balance of $1.8 million, child nutrition program balance of $200,000 and local schools balance of $313,000.

In other business, the board:

Named Anthony Mikel the system’s technology director.

Approved the Covington County Children’s Policy Council as the 2010 fiscal year’s “community agency partner.” As required by state law, the CCCPC will receive ACS’s 20 percent allocation for non-profit, non-governmental community agency services.

Approved the TAG trip/fund-raiser, capital improvements plan and technology plan.

The next meeting of the Andalusia Board of Education will be Mon., Oct. 12, at 6 p.m. at Andalusia Middle School.