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Board approves first reading of FY2026 budget; administration outlines $8 million shortfall to resolve
Summary
The board approved the first reading of the district's FY2026 budget. Administration presented proposed new expenditures (including teacher step/raise funding, additional instructional coaches and other staff) totaling about $11.8 million and estimated local revenue increases of roughly $3.1 million, leaving an $8 million gap administrators said
The Sumter School District Board of Trustees approved the first reading of the fiscal year 2025'26 budget on May 5 after district finance staff presented projected expenditure increases and revenue estimates.
CFO Shatika Spearman and the superintendent outlined proposed expenditure increases for FY2026 that together totaled roughly $11.8 million in new or expanded items. The largest components included funding the state'proposed $1,500 increase for certified teacher pay (salary and fringe), district-wide step increases and other staff step/market adjustments (estimated roughly $4.5 million), funding 15 instructional coaches ($1.9 million), and proposed district-funded behavior-interventionists (six positions) to replace or supplement Title I funding ($432,590). Other requested items included additional assistant principal and administrative support at specific schools, a preventive-maintenance specialist and increases to coaching stipends.
Revenue assumptions included estimated property-tax growth and investment income. Administration projected a combined local revenue increase of about $3.8 million and noted an expected reduction in the state'aid-to-classroom line of about $2.5 million because prior-year estimates in the FY2025 base were higher than current projections; net state revenue changes produced an estimated reduction of $742,063 in projected state aid. After combining projected increases and decreases, administration reported a net revenue increase of about $3.1 million against the $11.8 million in proposed expenditure increases, leaving an estimated shortfall of approximately $8 million.
Spearman said the first reading is intentionally comprehensive and that staff will reexamine the FY2025 base budget to identify unspent items, possible reductions and other offsets before a final budget is adopted. Trustees asked clarifying questions about assumptions, millage limits and the district's weighted-pupil calculations; staff cited statewide funding mechanics (including per-pupil formulas and charter allocations) and noted ongoing state-level discussions about formula adjustments.
At the end of the presentation the board approved first reading of the FY2026 budget by motion (vote recorded as passing). Administration committed to return with refined revenue and expenditure recommendations, including proposed reductions and possible reallocation of underspent FY2025 funds, prior to the final budget vote.
Ending: The board approved the FY2026 budget first reading; administration will pursue further analysis to close the projected gap and bring a balanced budget to the board for the required second reading.
