The governor’s release of more money from the state’s Rainy Day Fund will sustain Troy City Schools through the year, said Superintendent Linda Felton-Smith.

In Monday’s Board of Education meeting, Felton-Smith reported Ala. Gov. Bob Riley’s release of another $100 million from the Rainy Day Fund last week will keep the local school system sustained until next budget year.

The amount won’t ease proration, which is already at 9 percent, but it will keep the school receiving its monthly state allocation.

“We had made the necessary adjustments to finish out fiscal year 2009 with 9 percent proration,” Felton-Smith said. “However, if proration would have increased we would have had to go back to make additional adjustments, so releasing $100 million will maintain the anticipated 9 percent reductions.”

Felton-Smith told board members Riley still has $116 million remaining in the fund, which may be released during this budget.

While this announcement was welcomed by the board, another financial concern now looms.

Felton-Smith said sales tax figures for the month of June have dropped by 23 percent since last year, a number that’s the highest this school system has seen.

Numbers fell to $2.3 million, a decrease of more than $68,000 since June of 2008.

While the school system will still be able to fund the remainder of the budget year, which ends Sept. 31, Felton-Smith said her big concern is budgeting for next year.

“With 23 percent decreases for June 2009, my concern is the amount we will budget for the 2010 budget,” Felton-Smith said.

Budget hearings will begin at 4 p.m. Aug. 12 at the Troy Board of Education.

In other business, the board approved the hire of a new softball coach for Charles Henderson High School.

Chad Lapp, physical education teacher, will take over the position effective Tuesday, July 21.

Lapp has been at CHHS for more than a year as physical education instructor and has extensive background coaching softball, said CHHS Principal David Helms.

“He’s very knowledgeable about weightlifting and conditioning for female athletes,” Helms said. “He’s fired up about jumpstarting the program and is already a physical education teacher for us so he’s in a good position to take over the job.”

Lapp will replace softball coach Steve Haug, who resigned as coach earlier this year.

Troy City Schools will begin Aug. 10. The board will meet again Aug. 17.