[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6108870,"mediaKeyId","2765613-2a2fcdab1d5cf10ca975183171364e60","parentId",2765613,"title","MMPS warns of revenue uncertainty: ESSER sunsets, TISA shifts and fiscal‑capacity factor could tighten FY26","audioSeconds",558,"startMs",996000,"endMs",1554000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765613-2a2fcdab1d5cf10ca975183171364e60&start=996&end=1554","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765613-2a2fcdab1d5cf10ca975183171364e60/thumbnail_996000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6108870/Tennessee/MMPS-warns-of-revenue-uncertainty-ESSER-sunsets-TISA-shifts-and-fiscalcapacity-factor-could-tighten-FY26","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108870-a81921b300ca25e0044d786d7ec873d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985767&Signature=NXoBcMfNs29YbWUj~mJO92pxw~C-cdTko98mZwgScAPXSQgBkCKRnEvl4glaRupLKaOw0ddc-k8KqSoajz6GtzuPSRUkh3DO3Hgo75GnWyvfavf7nPL0R3Yzn3Hl53efWjCGIX40gEqzyjNc00f3V18Jwt-pi6KyDLlpGfNYdA0D2aZ~cZLCUXFwjsS~EN82JWhBB1ZvGtDJzF-lT67l4LpF0DcSf~4uJdmpxcEC4783siMjPjqRsj6G5fJ2spw8m4v6QRRpKw~Z~5UnEZhLH02zjOt~XbQiQPJEb2l8WxTfx8ZsQC7LcqCwN6Im9VY7S9oNCZWyiJS7gFpG2pLJWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools","date","2025-03-25T22:05:42.463Z","article","Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools staff told the board March 25 that revenue uncertainty at the state and federal levels could limit how much of the proposed FY26 spending the district can afford.

\"This year's funding is about a hundred and $47,000,000 that includes the ESSER 3,\" said Jorge Robles, chief financial officer, referring to current federal allocations. \"Next year we're projecting close to a hundred million in federal funding\" as ESSER funds sunset, he said.

Robles said district revenue assumptions from Metro government currently assume a flat local revenue year but that a reappraisal of property values and the state’s fiscal‑capacity factor — which allocates responsibility between state and local funding in the TISA formula — could change how much state support the district receives. \"What we don't know is the fiscal capacity factor... If that fiscal capacity factor increases, then definitely the revenue that we'll receive from the state will decrease,\" Robles said.

Robles outlined components of the TISA formula that could offset some declines: an increase of about 3% in the base weight and a 75% hold‑harmless provision for economically disadvantaged counts this year. He said the district is awaiting final fiscal‑capacity numbers in April or May.

Board members pressed for clarity about which federal funds are included in the district totals. One board member asked whether the projected roughly $97 million in federal funding referenced instructional dollars or included school nutrition; Robles said the projection \"excludes Child Nutrition Fund\" and represents formula funds, not meal program revenues.

Robles said the district is planning based on currently known funding while preparing contingency plans for possible shifts in property tax revenue, federal priorities and state formula changes. No revenue decisions were finalized during the meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/25/25 MNPS Board of Education: Budget Committee","oneSentenceSummary","Chief Financial Officer Jorge Robles told the board the district expects flat local revenue but flagged risks from TISA changes, vouchers and a possible fiscal‑capacity increase; he said current federal funding of about $147 million this year includes ESSER and next year’s federal funding is projected near $100 million.","taxTitle","Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, School Districts, Tennessee","taxId",69334,"location","Tennessee","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6108874,"Board and staff debate COLA, step increases and longevity pay in FY26 budget discussion",1605,656000,2261000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765613-2a2fcdab1d5cf10ca975183171364e60&start=656&end=2261","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765613-2a2fcdab1d5cf10ca975183171364e60/thumbnail_656000.jpg","/articles/6108874/Tennessee/Board-and-staff-debate-COLA-step-increases-and-longevity-pay-in-FY26-budget-discussion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108874-f03c64e96d8176cd3d0b93b86b2e68bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985767&Signature=aviTj5QVmC7aaNl57ZDS4YbTUTsjVYZmuwDAAhhEdKiTZquVi3lZRUJpgtZDaSJ9lNPKesdm-o~fcyR5csOH2QgMf-YjBM3CNReiLQ0~ciGdkfKjwTu5arubIMvCuPi2ezM7YKYlhzBreKy30pte3adJPrfNQaEkJmdxeV2mSSiljaEZ2AR9W5rX4-41MxeWc~NW-wwKQUnIWbG0VRTl4AGgu9IEx~SmszSiorcwaizUgPFeUELSN-Fguw0QZ7OR0C0OcORRORYrIalj5oKMQZWLDktMEw348QelaXNRpA9LdTtdmQmoNX3PG~Xk9SwBygss6c0t83BVNCrJaxu6rw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools staff told the board March 25 they are prioritizing a compensation strategy that preserves step increases and seeks COLA levels that keep district educators among the best paid in Tennessee, while examining if a longevity stipend would better help a small group of employees.

\"Combined for certificated and our support employees, we have a, estimated, dollars 7,100,000.0 needed for every 1%,\" said Jorge Robles, chief financial officer, describing the district’s estimate of the cost of a 1% COLA.

Robles told the board the district has moved the step increase into its continuity‑of‑operations budget so step raises are treated as recurring commitments. Several board members repeatedly emphasized that step increases should be a continuing expectation. \"For the record, we should always include step increases because we put it out on there as a promise,\" one board member said.

Board members and staff discussed longevity pay — an additional payment aimed at employees who have topped out on their salary schedules — and whether it should be added on top of COLA. Robles said district analysis showed a broad COLA would deliver a larger increase in take‑home pay across employees than a targeted longevity stipend for a small group. \"What we're seeing is given a range of COLA where we might land, that we could significantly increase the kind of compensation package that our employees actually could realize, for the FY '26 budget season,\" he said.

Some board members said they brought the topic of longevity to be sure teachers’ concerns were heard. Board Member Tyler said the district’s choice to omit a separate longevity line in the presented budgets was not a rejection of the idea: \"It's not included not because we didn't listen to you. It's not included not because we disregarded what you said, but because we wanted to do more, not just for the long the teachers who have topped out, but for everybody,\" Tyler said.

The board also heard that COLA applies to all employees and permanently increases the base salary amounts used in future budgets. Robles and several board members described the district’s objective as maintaining or exceeding peer pay levels in the state, which requires ongoing, historic investments.

No formal compensation decisions were finalized during the meeting; Robles said the district will negotiate final COLA and other compensation elements with Metro government as part of the mayor’s budget process.","Board members and district leaders discussed compensation strategy for FY26, including making step increases permanent, the relative effect of COLA versus longevity pay, and a district estimate that a 1% COLA costs about $7.1 million.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6108878,"MMPS budget presentation moves curriculum adoptions and step increases into base operating plan",268,490000,758000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2765613-2a2fcdab1d5cf10ca975183171364e60&start=490&end=758","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2765613-2a2fcdab1d5cf10ca975183171364e60/thumbnail_490000.jpg","/articles/6108878/Tennessee/MMPS-budget-presentation-moves-curriculum-adoptions-and-step-increases-into-base-operating-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6108878-9466203575f5529b6b79b3f79142061e/orig.mp4?Expires=1770985767&Signature=mL7GBIHvmvtM9X0JBfqJMCg1ahuec1oi3NeJcBjCCSkbXURmwdxYnFyGmnKotkor5SqVa9NAgPzNXdmEAwHBBaIIo3UgU2g-lfoeuPDoDchJzJ1QWt8uz-muNJUvpPK5q7FQPaKeEmCsCsTYOWoKJKIympszWKVcMsMCfhfBcPwX0OsfQieVbsLwGaXKWenvPq-5BtQy6o8ir4m4HwTHm0Yu3UcxFdy1ihnuhDbBkf8Sr8jhfi21u5PBmSdTcXWKZ~~dyw4NT5av70FlJh~8aDFTXHFC5o7Ab0POT7Vk73tKFR6dOpkmtPtn1OUalXZNsvg6KLX141q1cJzA1wUjkQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools presented a proposed FY26 operating budget that would add recurring funding for textbook adoptions and make step increases a permanent part of the operating budget, Chief Financial Officer Jorge Robles said during a board finance committee meeting March 25.

Robles said the district plans to budget for required curriculum adoptions using a six‑year average so purchases can be completed in spring and ready for students in August. \"The amount that we're including is calculated based on a 6 year average of all the curriculum adoption needs that the state requires,\" Robles said.

The proposal aligns with four board priorities the board approved last month: continuity of operations, continuing strategic investments, making ESSER funding part of the operating fund, and a new priority for comprehensive safety and security planning. Robles said continuity of operations includes inflationary and contractual increases, growing special education and English-language learner supports, utilities and other essential services, and a small investment to complete a customer‑service associate strategy.

Robles told the board the district intends to treat step increases as part of its ongoing operating commitments rather than a one‑time item. He said the district already moved the step increase into the continuity-of-operations budget and that the board approved last year’s step investment. \"We also invested in our team members through the 4% call up approved by Metro City Council and this step increase that is now part of our operating budget,\" Robles said.

Robles also flagged safety and security as a new board priority for FY26. He described ongoing work on high school safety measures, including an existing weapons‑detection project now focused on high schools and estimated at about $1,200,000 to expand into additional schools if funds allow. \"These are investments that we would only be able to pursue if the fund becomes available,\" he said.

Board members praised the proposal to budget curriculum adoptions into the base. One board member said using a multi‑year average would help the district avoid being behind on state‑required materials and reduce late‑purchase penalties. Robles said other aspirational items, such as expanding in‑house custodial staff or additional school supports, are presented for consideration to the mayor and Metro Council but are not included in the continuity or bridge budgets at this time.

Robles closed by outlining the timeline: the district will present this information in a community meeting on March 26, continue discussions with Metro government in April, and expect the mayor’s budget proposal and final approvals to occur leading up to June.

The board did not take a vote on the budget during the meeting; Robles said additional details will follow as Metro government finalizes revenue assumptions.","Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools presented a proposed FY26 operating budget that would fold textbook adoptions and step increases into the ongoing operating budget, preserve several one-time investments as ongoing supports, and list safety and other aspirational items for future funding if revenue becomes available.","actionData","errors"]

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MMPS warns of revenue uncertainty: ESSER sunsets, TISA shifts and fiscal‑capacity factor could tighten FY26

Board and staff debate COLA, step increases and longevity pay in FY26 budget discussion

MMPS budget presentation moves curriculum adoptions and step increases into base operating plan