The Franklin Special District School Board approved the district's fiscal year 2025–26 budget and set tax rates to fund it, the board announced following roll-call votes at its meeting.

The administration presented the final general purpose and debt service budget documents before the board. Doctor Snowden, speaking for the administration, summarized the package and its personnel-related provisions: “The proposed 25–26 budget provides a 2% cost of living increase in addition to their step increase for all FSD employees, continuation of the driver retention and recruitment program, and continue to pay 100% of the employee only health coverage and 65 of the health coverage cost for other family members anchored in the standard PPO tier instead of the premier PPO tier,” he said. He also said the budget requests no Franklin Special District property tax.

The board approved the budget on a motion by Miss Stilling, seconded by Miss Parker, with a roll-call vote recorded in open session. After budget approval the board set the tax rates the administration recommended: 0.4323 for general purpose and 0.155 for debt service, for a combined rate of 0.5873; the board moved to approve the tax rate immediately after adopting the budget and took a roll-call vote.

Why it matters: The budget determines employee compensation, program continuity and how capital and federal funds are deployed in the coming school year. The board’s decision to avoid a local property tax increase was noted repeatedly during discussion as a priority for district leaders and trustees.

Supporting details: Board members and administrators highlighted personnel incentives included in the budget. Doctor Snowden recognized the finance staff and administrators for their work in finalizing the documents. During the work sessions leading up to the meeting, the board discussed the details of federal capital project budgets, food services, and magnet/alternative program budgets, the administration said.

Process and next steps: With the board’s vote to adopt the budget and set the tax rate, the administration said it will move to implement the approved spending plan. Specific program or contract-level awards that require additional board approval will be brought back as needed.

Votes and procedure: The budget passed on the record; the board then approved the tax rate to fund the adopted budgets. (Motions and roll-call votes were taken in public session.)