Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Fy2026 topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Newton County Board adopts tentative $265 million FY2026 budget
Summary
At its April meeting the Newton County Board of Education voted to adopt a tentative fiscal year 2026 budget of about $265 million that includes full implementation of a classification and compensation study and higher employer benefit costs, while state funding is projected to decline.
At its April meeting the Newton County Board of Education adopted a tentative fiscal year 2026 budget totaling approximately $265,000,000, board members said.
Erica Robinson, who presented the budget to the board, said the preliminary plan totals $265 million and reflects a $16.9 million increase over FY2025 driven largely by full implementation of the district's classification and compensation study and rising employer benefit costs. Robinson said estimated per-pupil spending under the tentative budget is $14,138 based on a projected enrollment of 18,747 students.
The plan allocates about $8,000,000 to implement the classification and compensation study, Robinson said, plus an estimated $3,900,000 increase for employer health insurance and $1,600,000 for higher employer contributions to the Teachers Retirement System. Robinson also presented an updated revenue outlook showing a net projected decline in state funding of about $2,200,000 even though the state increase for health and retirement costs totals roughly $4,500,000. Local revenue growth is estimated at about $2,900,000, driven primarily by a projected 6% increase to the local property digest and a planned $5.5 million joint development authority distribution to participating counties.
Board policy DC and the State Board of Education process were cited as the framework for preparing the budget and Robinson noted the figures remain preliminary until the governor signs the Appropriations Act.
The board moved and seconded a motion to adopt the tentative budget for all governmental funds. The motion, made by Miss Henderson Baker and seconded by Mister Anderson Bailey, passed by voice vote. Robinson told the board the district will publish the tentative budget in the county legal organ and on the district website, hold two public budget hearings on May 13 and May 20, and expect final adoption on May 20. The millage rate adoption process is scheduled for July.
The superintendent and board members reiterated that about 88% of the district's spending is for salaries and benefits and said the budget aims to remain competitive to retain staff in the region.
The board's adoption of the tentative budget begins the public review process required under state and local rules; community members will have two scheduled hearings and the opportunity to comment before the board adopts a final budget.
