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CFO warns governor’s budget proposal could reduce Fulton County Schools’ net resources by about $45 million
Summary
Marvin Dureef told the board the governor’s FY‑26 proposals (higher TRS and health rates, enrollment and local fair‑share changes) could combine with expenditure increases to create an estimated $45 million negative impact to district finances, subject to change as the General Assembly acts.
Marvin Dureef, Fulton County Schools chief financial officer, presented the board with a preliminary analysis of the governor’s FY‑26 budget proposal and its potential effects on the district’s revenue and expenditures.
Dureef said several items in the governor’s proposal raise material budget pressure for Fulton County Schools: increased employer contributions to the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), higher state health‑insurance rates, and the state/local distribution known as the local fair share. “When you look at that together, revenue going down, expenditure going up, it's $45,000,000 impact based on what this recommendation is,” he said.
On the revenue side, Dureef said changes tied to QBE (Quality Basic Education) and enrollment could lower Fulton’s state revenues, and he singled out the local fair share deduction as a major factor: the district could lose an estimated $21 million under the proposal. On the expenditure side, Dureef identified higher employer TRS rates and rising health premiums as the primary drivers of increased district costs; he estimated a $33.2 million expenditure increase tied to those items in his analysis.
Board members asked clarifying questions about the difference between certified and classified staff insurance, and whether the analysis accounted for locally funded positions that fall outside the state formula. Dureef confirmed the figures are estimates and noted many variables remain as the legislative budget process proceeds.
Dr. Looney summarized the big picture for the public: under the governor’s initial proposal, “we're gonna lose $45,000,000 in funding net revenues and expended increased expenditures without giving a single pay raise to anybody in the district. Just keeping business as usual.”
Ending: Dureef and staff will continue to analyze the proposal as the General Assembly negotiates, and the board requested additional detail and documentation for follow‑up budget planning.
