Kingsport board adopts $105 million FY2025–26 budget after financial update and amendments

Kingsport City Schools on May 13 approved its fiscal year 2025–26 operating budget of $105,002,300 and adopted Budget Amendment No. 5 following a quarter‑end financial briefing and debate about school nutrition shortfalls, federal and state grants, and one‑time fund‑balance uses.

The approval followed a presentation by David Fry, a school system staff member who led the financial update and budget discussion. Fry told the board that revenues and expenditures were “pretty much breakeven” overall but that several one‑time and recurring pressures required board action, including using fund balance for targeted needs. "I do think that we'll end up, you know, somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 plus million dollars in our fund balance at the end of the year, which is a good thing," Fry said during the update.

The board’s decision matters because it sets pay increases, program funding, and operating plans for the coming school year. The FY26 budget includes state and local revenue projections, a teacher pay increase tied to a state allocation, a locally funded classified‑staff bonus, and a $300,000 appropriation…