Oconee County school leaders ask council for $3.5 million increase in FY2025–26 budget

School District of Oconee County officials on April 15 presented a FY2025–26 spending plan to the County Council’s Budget, Finance and Administration committee and requested a $3.5 million increase in local funding, a 6.4% rise from the current county contribution.

The district’s finance staff told the council that roughly 90% of the school budget is personnel-related and that benefits add about 47% on average to salary costs. The presentation said that nonpersonnel costs total about $16.165 million and highlighted several revenue risks, including variability in the state funding formula and fluctuating investment earnings.

The district framed its request around three fiscal-management principles: maintain market-competitive pay to retain and recruit staff; conservatively budget for variable revenue items; and match recurring expenditures to recurring revenues. Officials said those principles also guide the district’s effort to maintain a fund-balance policy that sets a 20% minimum of operating expenditures; they reported a projected year-end fund balance near 27%.

School officials explained the state aid calculation to council members, saying the state uses an assumed teacher-to-student ratio and an index of local taxing ability to apportion funding. According to the presentation, the state’s recent calculations would fund about 59% of the district’s teacher-pay increases and the county would be expected to provide roughly 41% of the local share. Presenters warned that differences between the state’s early projections and final pupil counts have recently cost the district about $600,000 in state support compared with initial projections, and a prior year’s mismatch exceeded $1 million.

On compensation, the district said the state has raised its minimum teacher pay scale substantially over recent years and noted employer pension and health-cost increases. The plan discussed targeted pay increases: roughly 3% for teachers and classified staff combined with step increases where eligible, and a smaller 2.5% adjustment for administrators. The presentation also described efforts to compress pay scales for some classified positions, and repeated persistent recruitment challenges for bus drivers, custodians and specialized special-education staff. Officials said some special-education and speech services are contracted when credentialed staff cannot be recruited locally.

Council members pressed staff on the district’s fund balance and the recent history of county requests. Presenters outlined previous requests and outcomes: a $1.8 million request that led to a 4-point millage reduction, a $2.3 million request that led to a 3-point reduction, and a roughly $6 million request the prior year that coincided with a 1.4-mill increase. Council members said they want more time to review the packet line by line and several asked for a follow-up meeting.

Superintendent Megan Ketterman urged council members to visit schools to see how county funding is used. “Come see what your dollars are paying for. Step inside our schools, not for a tour, but for an inspection,” Ketterman said, adding that the district had trimmed administrative costs, controlled benefits spending and limited position growth by attrition.

Council and school staff tentatively scheduled a special budget meeting for Tuesday, April 29 (proposed start 3:30 p.m.) to allow more time for review and questions and the district agreed to distribute the presentation slides and answer follow-up questions in writing or in person at the special meeting.

Votes at a glance: the council approved the minutes of its March 4, 2025 meeting earlier in the session and later moved to adjourn at the end of the agenda; both routine motions were carried without recorded opposition.

The presentation and subsequent discussion centered on trade-offs county leaders will weigh in the coming weeks: support for the district’s request to cover personnel-driven costs and maintain services versus the council’s concern about millage levels and returning tax capacity to the county. District staff said they will provide additional documentation and requested a follow-up session to continue deliberations.