Board gives tentative approval to FY26 budget; administration to seek final approval May 15

The Cobb County School Board on April 24 gave tentative approval to the superintendent’s recommended FY26 budget, allowing the district to advertise the proposal and receive public comment before a final vote scheduled for May 15, 2025.

Bradley Reuben Johnson, the district’s chief financial officer, presented the tentative FY26 budget and said tentative approval enables the district to advertise the budget as required by board policy. Administration said the budget document would be posted online after the meeting.

Superintendent Ragdale and financial staff described fiscal pressures driving the budget outlook. Ragdale recapped that digest growth had slowed substantially in recent years—from roughly 15% in earlier years, to 7.5% growth in a subsequent period, and a forecasted 2% growth for the coming year—and said the 2% forecast does not cover a full salary step. He also noted the budget presented includes a fully funded salary step that could provide employees, depending on pay grade step, up to a 4.6% increase.

Administration requested the board’s tentative approval to allow public advertisement; the board approved the motion (moved by Mr. Scammerhorn and seconded by Mr. Hutchins) by a 7–0 vote.

Why it matters: Tentative approval starts the formal public-notice period, permits community review and comment, and sets the district on a path to finalize spending levels for schools and operations. Board members asked for additional detail on fleet and transportation funding during the finalization process.

The superintendent emphasized the district’s conservative budgeting practices and credited financial staff for preparing a budget that would allow the district to “weather the storm” should lower-than-expected growth materialize. Administration will return to the board on May 15 for final approval.