Savannah-Chatham County schools preview FY2026 budget, emphasize staffing and literacy

Ken Slatz, staff member, Savannah-Chatham County Public School System, outlined priorities for the district’s proposed fiscal year 2026 budget and said about “85% of the budget is dedicated to our people.” The presentation summarized revenue sources, cost pressures and proposed savings ahead of a board meeting on June 17 when the final budget will be presented for approval.

The budget outline matters because personnel costs make up most spending and drive decisions about taxes, staffing and programs. “The goal of the puzzle is to be balanced, while at the same time aligned with the goals and strategies to support the full growth of our students,” Ken Slatz said, listing academic goals and operational trade-offs that the district weighed.

Slatz said revenue assumptions for the budget include the millage rate (local school taxes), federal funds and state appropriations. He warned that rising costs are increasing pressure on the budget, citing higher state health insurance premiums and growing local contributions to the teacher retirement system. “We must also stay competitive in hiring salaries,” Slatz said, noting retention and recruitment are priorities.

The presentation emphasized instructional priorities, with literacy identified as the district’s “North Star.” Slatz said the district’s planning centers on targeted investments that support schools and employees and described a new return-on-investment approach added to this year’s budget development process.

To balance the budget, Slatz said the district has identified proposed cost savings to be included in the FY2026 proposal: departmental reductions, adjustments tied to staff vacancies and lower school startup costs. He described those as planned reductions rather than final decisions and said the school board would continue reviewing the recommendations.

The district’s workforce and student counts were cited as context: Slatz said about 5,600 district employees serve roughly 36,000 students across about 426 square miles of Savannah-Chatham County. He said budget details and the schedule are available on the district website and invited the public to follow the board review process leading up to the June 17 meeting.

No formal board action was reported in the remarks recorded in the transcript; the presentation was a staff briefing and the final budget outcome will depend on later board review and any formal votes scheduled at the June 17 meeting.