Baldwin County Schools unveil $723 million 2026 budget, detail $180 million in construction projects

John Wilson, chief school financial officer (CSFO) for Baldwin County Public Schools, presented the district’s fiscal 2026 proposed budget at a public hearing, asking the board to consider an overall $723,000,000 plan that includes roughly $180,000,000 in new and ongoing construction projects.

Wilson said enrollment — which drives state funding formulas — rose modestly this year, increasing average daily membership (ADM) by about 158 students to 30,826. He described enrollment growth as slowing from longer-term averages and noted recent municipal splits and the COVID-19 period as causes of enrollment volatility.

The budget summary shows revenue split roughly 51% local, 42% state and under 7% federal. Wilson attributed an estimated $18,900,000 overall revenue increase to multiple sources and called particular attention to two state funding elements: the foundation program and the newly implemented RAISE Act. "RAISE Act gave us an additional $6,000,000, and we lost about $2,000,000 of previous allocations for a total net funding increase of just over $4,000,000," Wilson said, describing how the new law weights students in poverty, special education tiers, English-language learners and gifted education to calculate local allocations.

Wilson outlined how the RAISE Act allocations would be spent: about $2,300,000 to poverty-related supports (largely social workers and additional counselors), roughly $1,800,000 toward special education staffing and services (including psychometrists and therapists), about 14 ELL teachers and…