Shelby County Schools finance team proposes $66.4 million amendment, outlines fund-balance plan and staffing moves

Chief Langston, the district finance lead, told the Audit, Budget and Finance Committee on Aug. 12 that the administration will present a FY26 budget amendment that “authorizes a net increase of $66,430,309” across multiple funds and outlined recommended one-time uses of fund balance and staffing adjustments tied to the transition of Head Start services and other grant changes.

Why it matters: The amendment covers changes to the general fund, capital improvement fund and several special revenue funds; it reallocates one-time savings for textbooks, devices and carry-forward contracts and absorbs positions previously funded by Head Start grants so key early-childhood services and voluntary pre-K classrooms can continue.

What staff presented

Chief Langston summarized the package as follows: the general fund would increase by $72,714,462 primarily to cover planned, one-time uses of fund balance (including comprehensive early-intervention coordinators and one-time teacher bonuses), the capital improvement fund would be reduced by $14,986,261 to align the budget with county support and actual expenditures, and certain special revenue funds would increase by roughly $8.7 million for state school-improvement and public-school security grants. The amendment package, taken together, raised the…