Cabarrus County Schools outlines $239M budget plan for 2025-2026

The Cabarrus County Schools Board of Education held a work session and public hearing on April 7, 2025, to discuss the proposed budget for the 2025-26 school year. The meeting focused on key components of the budget, including a continuation budget, expansion requests, and capital expenditures, while emphasizing the need for transparency and alignment with the district's strategic goals.

The budget aims to support the district's strategic plan while addressing resource allocation amid financial constraints. Officials highlighted the importance of distinguishing between essential needs and wants, ensuring that long-term goals are not sacrificed for short-term solutions. A significant point of discussion was the reduction of locally funded certified staff for the second consecutive year, with plans to cut 60 positions through attrition rather than layoffs.

Key assumptions for the budget include a 3% contingency for potential legislative salary increases for teachers and staff, as well as an inflation rate assumption of 2.3%. The district anticipates an increase in student enrollment, projecting a rise of approximately 294 students, which poses challenges as funding is based on previous enrollment figures.

The budget also addresses the growing costs associated with students requiring exceptional children (EC) services, which have surged by over 700 students since the 2020-21 school year. This increase has resulted in an estimated unfunded cost of $9.8 million for the upcoming year.

In terms of capital expenditures, the budget outlines a total request of $239.9 million, which includes funding for new construction, equipment replacement, and maintenance projects. Notably, the district is seeking $49.1 million for a new elementary school and $130 million for the replacement of a high school. The meeting underscored the need for ongoing maintenance and repairs, with 804 projects currently tracked, reflecting the aging infrastructure of school facilities.

The board is set to adopt the budget on April 15, 2025, following the public hearing, with copies of the proposed budget available for public review. The discussions highlighted the district's commitment to fiscal responsibility while striving to meet the educational needs of its growing student population.