Richland 1 board approves $419.4 million general fund budget for 2025-26

Richland 1 Board of School Commissioners on June 24 approved the fiscal year 2025-26 general fund budget at $419,398,762 following a third reading and discussion of revised state and county revenue projections.

The administration recommended the budget and described adjustments made since the second reading to reflect final state revenue projections, county decisions and a cap calculation under state law. "The administration recommends third reading approval of the fiscal year 25, 26 general fund budget for $419,398,762," Ms. Bing said.

Why it matters: the board’s vote finalizes spending and pay decisions for the district for the new school year and sets priorities for staff compensation, programs and capital needs.

Board and staff described the major changes that affected the final document. The district used final conference state revenue projections and a millage cap formula tied to the consumer price index (2.9%) and population growth (1.69%) applied to the operating millage, which staff estimated would yield a mill-cap revenue estimate of $277,499,134. That estimate produced an overall revenue increase of about $13 million over fiscal year 2024-25, according to the presentation.

County council decisions narrowed the district’s requested millage increase. Ms. Bing told the board that Richland County Council did not approve the district’s original request and instead approved a smaller increase; that decision provided the district with an additional $2,900,000 (county action reduced the district’s original request and produced a net county-provided increase shown in the presentation). The administration also reduced an earlier proposed 2% increase to the teacher salary schedule (a $3.6 million reduction from the district’s initial request) and trimmed career and technical education supplements in the final package.

Commissioner Hersey asked about the possibility of addressing reductions later in the year. Ms. Bing and district staff replied that after fiscal-year close staff can return with midyear recommendations if funds become available. "Yes," staff said, noting midyear reviews in December–January are the standard path to revisit one-time allocations.

The motion to approve the budget passed 5–1. Commissioners in debate acknowledged the difficulty of the county’s own budget decisions; several commissioners expressed concern about cuts to career and technical education supplements and said they would seek opportunities to restore those supports later if possible.

The district said the proposed budget continues to prioritize staff pay and benefits while reserving funds for capital and instructional needs; staff noted specific line items and contingency planning would be revisited during the fiscal year if circumstances change.

The board set the budget after the public hearing record showed no signed speakers for the FY25-26 general fund budget hearing. The district will publish the approved budget and supporting schedules as required by state law.