Muscogee County School District adopts tentative FY2026 budget and sets millage at 23.075

The Muscogee County Board of Education on Monday held a public hearing and adopted a tentative fiscal year 2026 general fund budget and a proposed millage rate of 23.075.

Board Finance Chair Kia Chambers opened the hearing and Janice Bloodworth, chief financial officer, presented the budget details and the legal notice required under Georgia law. Bloodworth said the proposed millage of 23.075 is unchanged from FY2025 but is 0.599 mills above the rollback rate of 22.476, which “legally requires the district to announce a proposed property tax increase.”

Bloodworth said the district plans to budget $392,000,000 in general fund revenue for FY2026, a roughly $11,000,000 increase over FY2025, and to use approximately $25,000,000 (about 25%) of the current fund balance to balance the budget, leaving a projected fund balance of about $70,000,000. She listed key line items: a 3% employee salary increase, an 18% increase in budgeted health insurance costs, and planned staffing changes that result in a net increase of 33 positions, including 14 new teaching positions and additional clerks and assistant principals.

Bloodworth said major revenue sources include state QBE funding (about $239,000,000) and local property taxes (about $143,000,000). She also noted federal and other funds, and that Title I, IDEA and state pre-K are among the largest federal/state grant streams. On expenditures she said roughly 65% of the general fund is dedicated to direct instruction (77% when combined with other school-based functions) and that salaries and benefits total approximately $346,000,000, or about 85% of projected expenditures.

The board discussed budget specifics during the work session. Members asked for additional detail on the composition of the $5,600,000 increase tied to a new safety grant and on which of the 14 new teaching positions are “earned” formula positions versus locally funded positions. Bloodworth agreed to provide a breakdown of where the 14 positions will be assigned and which are funded by state-justified (earned) allocations.

Votes at a glance: - Motion to adopt the tentative FY2026 general fund budget (motion by Pat Frey; second by Kia Chambers). Vote: hand vote; board reported the motion passed. (Vote counts not fully recorded in the meeting transcript.) - Motion to adopt the tentative FY2026 millage rate of 23.075 (motion by Pat Frey; second by Kia Chambers). Vote: hand vote; board reported the motion passed. (Vote counts not fully recorded in the meeting transcript.)

Why it matters: Because the proposed millage is above the rollback rate, state law requires the district to notify the public and hold hearings; the board’s use of fund balance and the near-term increases in salaries and health insurance will affect reserves and future budget choices. The board scheduled additional public hearings and set the final vote on the budget and the millage for the June 23, 2025 meeting.

Board members and staff indicated follow-up work: provide a detailed listing of the 14 new teacher positions (which are earned vs. locally funded); clarify total school safety spending (state safety grant amounts vs. prior safety allocations); and post the budget and five‑year tax digest materials on the district website and the Division of Financial Services for public review.

The board closed the special-call public hearing and proceeded with the regular work session.