The Bibb County Board of Education approved the superintendent's FY2026 recommended budget Tuesday after extended debate about adding staff focused on attendance and literacy. The final motion to adopt the recommended budget passed 7 to 1.

Board members debated an amendment that would have increased the budget to add a truancy specialist, a K5 ELA school-improvement coordinator and the reclassification of the director of elementary services to an executive director. The amendment failed on a 4 tie, leaving the original recommended budget intact. The superintendent and supporters said the district had identified internal savings to cover priorities; opponents warned the multi-year projections showed the fund balance declining beyond recommended levels.

The superintendent presented the FY2026 recommended budget showing total all-funds revenues and transfers in of $482.1 million and total expenditures and transfers out of $396.7 million, producing a projected ending fund balance for all funds of $85.4 million. Administration noted that the recommended budget includes salary adjustments and other items the board previously discussed.

Board discussion focused on how to balance immediate priorities for student supports with multi-year fiscal sustainability. Supporters argued that the district had identified more than $1 million in one-time or reallocated savings and could cover the requested positions without increasing the overall budget. Opponents said the district's projected fund balance trend extended beyond FY2026 and asked that the board avoid adding recurring personnel until longer-term revenue sources were confirmed.

After the amendment failed, the board voted to adopt the FY2026 recommended budget. The vote was announced as 7 in favor, 1 opposed; the item will not be sent to the consent agenda and will proceed as the adopted FY2026 budget.

The board also discussed external commitments potentially affecting the budget'for example, a three-year mayoral commitment to fund a truancy-related position was referenced during discussion, but the board noted any such revenue would require formal confirmation and appropriation before it could be counted in the district budget.

Board members and staff said they planned follow-up action to monitor projections and to identify options (including SPLOST and other funding sources) that could alter the multi-year outlook.