Orange County Schools presents FY26 operating budget; requests $4 million from county for continuation and expansions

The Orange County Board of Education heard the superintendent27s recommended local operating budget for fiscal year 2025-26 on March 24, with district staff asking the county commissioners to provide roughly $4 million to both continue current services and fund targeted pay and staffing increases.

The recommendation, presented by Ms. Rath (budget presenter, Orange County Schools staff), outlined that continuing operations as currently structured would require about $1.8 million from the county. On top of that the district is asking for roughly $2.2 million in expansion funding to increase local teacher supplements, raise classified-staff supplements and boost bus driver pay. Together, Rath said, the continuation and expansion requests create a local shortfall of a little more than $4 million for the coming year.

Why it matters: district staff emphasized that staffing and salaries account for the majority of the operating budget, and that state allotments do not cover many locally funded positions the district maintains. Ms. Rath said the district27s budget priorities are to recruit and retain staff, support student proficiency and growth, and allocate…