Vicksburg Warren school board passes $80.8M budget before tense exchange

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The Vicksburg Warren School District board approved its combined budget for the 2025-2026 fiscal year Friday in a special-called meeting that ended with a man being escorted from the property after a heated exchange.

Following the meeting’s adjournment, an audience member asked if the board would take questions. Superintendent Dr. Tori Holloway told the man that board rules do not allow open floor discussions during regular meetings but offered to schedule a time to talk privately.

“Ya’ll are a joke is what you are,” the man replied, alleging that the district was spending taxpayer money on travel to Hawaii. He was escorted outside and left on his own volition.

The budget, presented by Director of Finance Kathy Hughes, projects $80.8 million in revenue for FY26 — a 15% decrease from the prior year. The district’s four governmental fund types — general, special revenue, capital projects, and debt service — will draw from local, state, federal, 16th Section, and other sources.

The board also approved an ad valorem tax resolution requesting $34.8 million from the Warren County Board of Supervisors. That amount includes a base request of $33.4 million plus an additional 4% increase.

Holloway said federal ESSER funds — about $14 million — had covered some services for students but are running out, while expenses have risen due to tariffs, capital projects, and increasing contributions to the Public Employees’ Retirement System (PERS).

“We don’t know when the current federal administration will freeze money again,” Holloway said. “If our kids are receiving services, we need to have money so they can continue when funds are cut or taken away. That’s why we have this back-up.”

Combined Combining Budget FY2026.pdf

Editor’s note: VDN has since learned the man left on his on volition. The story has been updated to reflect this.