BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Jefferson County Commissioner Sandra Little Brown presented the Birmingham Board of Education with two checks, and they weren't small.

Combined, they represented $7.05 million in revenue owed the city school system from the county's one cent sales tax.

The funds were held up during the county's lengthy bankruptcy proceedings.

Despite the amount of the checks, the money, which is meant for capital expenditures, will have little impact on the school system's existing capital plan.

According to Superintendent Craig Witherspoon, school officials have known the money was coming since January.

It will have no impact on the planned capital improvements like the Ernest F. Bush K-8 School renovation or plans to renovate Norwood Elementary School and consolidate it with students from Lewis Elementary School.

"We've somewhat committed these funds already, knowing these dollars were indeed coming," Witherspoon said.

Plans for the $7 million renovation of Bush K-8 led to a public outcry this year when the school board rescinded a plan approved by the previous school board to build a new school in Birmingham's Ensley community.

According to Witherspoon, money intended for the new school went instead to cover more than $14 million in deferred maintenance across the 44-school system.