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Frugality may be the word of the year for the public school districts in Concordia Parish and Natchez-Adams County.

This week, Superintendent Toyua Bachus pointed out the district has lost $1 million in federal grant funds ahead of the upcoming school year.

She warned board members about the uncertainty facing the district during the upcoming year as changes to federal funding programs continue, urging caution on a proposal to hire an athletic director for the district.

At the Natchez-Adams County School District, officials are grappling with the loss of $2.8 million in ESSR funds if a deadline extension is not granted. That, coupled with other changes in federal program funding, will create some difficult decisions and significant budget shortfalls.

The NASD is already seeking a 3 percent ad valorem tax increase for the upcoming year to fund its budget. The tax increase would be applied to property taxes, car tags, business equipment and rental property throughout the county, affecting nearly every resident who owns a vehicle, a home or a business. A public hearing to review the proposed tax increase is set for 10 a.m. June 24 at the school board office.

Regardless of the fate of the tax increase, we believe both public school systems would do well to partner their frugality with a generous accountability to the public. Public schools have an incredibly important mission to educate a community’s children effectively while making the best use of the resources provided through tax dollars, state and federal funding. We’ve watched this year as President Trump ushered in a culture of accountability at the federal level, from DOGE cuts to probing questions about expenses and expenditures. And while some might dispute the approach or implementation, the purpose behind the questions is valid – and it is a purpose that extends locally to our school systems.

Taxpayers in Adams County and Concordia Parish need to understand the financial challenges facing our local school districts, and they need honest and candid information to provide that understanding – especially if either district is asking taxpayers to increase their investment through additional taxes.

Frugality and accountability go hand-in-hand. We’re looking for both.