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Kershaw School District presents first reading of FY 2025-26 budget projecting $3.9 million budgeted shortfall
Summary
District finance staff presented a people-focused FY2025-26 budget as a first reading, outlining salary-schedule upgrades, a 2% cost-of-living adjustment, mandated teacher and bus-salary increases, and a projected $3.9 million budgeted shortfall; no final vote was held.
Brad Willard, district finance staff member, presented the first reading of the Kershaw School District's proposed FY2025-26 budget to the Board of Trustees, describing personnel-focused investments and a budgeted gap the district proposes to cover from reserves if needed.
Willard said the proposal is “a people focused focused budget” that includes mandated state salary increases and local salary-schedule upgrades. He summarized legislative uncertainty and revenue projections, noting the district used Ways and Means projections and was watching the conference committee and Board of Economic Advisors updates.
Key figures Willard presented include: projected local revenue of $122,300,000 and projected expenses of $126,300,000 for FY 2025-26, producing a budgeted shortfall of about $3,900,000. He said implementation of salary-schedule upgrades carries an estimated $1,125,000 investment, teacher-salary-row increases account for roughly $5,300,000 in additional budgeted teacher-related expenses, and a 2% cost-of-living adjustment is included for all schedules. The presentation also reflected a state-required 4.6% employer health-cost increase built into the proposal.
Willard explained classification- and step-based increases are part of the calculation and that implementation of the salary study results will raise many employees' pay by at least 3.5–4% overall, with the study-funded increases varying by classification. He said certain categories — professional support, secretarial and aide salaries, maintenance, and transportation — show substantial increases, partly because of the schedule upgrades and mandated state changes for bus-driver pay.
On non-salary items, Willard flagged cleaning services and repairs/maintenance as lines that will be adjusted before second reading. He gave an example that the cleaning-services line is being rebuilt into the general fund at an estimated $2,200,000 (up from last year's $1.7 million), but said the change will be offset by a planned transfer from capital to avoid net impact on the bottom line. He also said instructional and student services contract lines were intentionally held down to preserve salary-line flexibility for potential hires.
Doctor Goodwin, district official, described the proposal as “very similar” to peer districts and reiterated its people focus. He and other trustees praised finance staff for the work involved in implementing the salary study and preparing the multisection proposal.
Willard said the district plans to bring the budget back for second reading on June 4, subject to legislative developments; no final board vote was taken at this meeting.
