Lakeland board previews structurally balanced FY25-26 budget; plans K–12 staffing, raises and district-office reorganization

Superintendent Dr. Horrell presented the Lakeland School System’s proposed FY25-26 budget at the board work session and said it is a “structurally balanced budget, with no budgeted use of fund balance.” The draft funds the district’s first full K–12 year, supports an estimated enrollment of 2,646 students and will be carried to next week’s discussion action agenda as item No. 1.

The proposal matters because Lakeland is shifting from a K–8 model to a fully staffed K–12 district; Dr. Horrell told the board that change requires new district-office roles and more school-based staff. The budget frames the district’s priorities — continued investment in teacher pay, additional instructional and student-support positions, and modest central-office growth to match the district’s enrollment increase.

Dr. Horrell said projected general fund revenues total about $32,000,008.51 and described the proposal as “almost $33,000,000 in revenues and expenses” as a practical summary. She attributed roughly $18.5 million to the state’s Tennessee Investment in Student Achievement program (TISA) and said Shelby County support and local sources combine to reach the total. The superintendent said the projection represents a 9 percent total revenue increase and includes an estimated $2.6 million growth from the prior year.

Key budget items and constraints cited during the presentation: - Enrollment and funding timing: Dr. Horrell emphasized that state and county funding are calculated on prior-year counts. Rapid student growth in recent years meant Lakeland often…