Collierville holds public hearing on FY2026 town and schools budgets; no vote taken

The Collierville Board of Mayor and Aldermen held a public hearing Tuesday on the proposed fiscal year 2026 budgets for the town and Collierville Schools. No action was taken; the board is scheduled to consider adoption at its June 9 meeting, with the budgets (if approved) to take effect July 1, 2025.

Collierville Schools Director of Schools Dr. Russell Dyer presented the school systems proposed budget, which the school board has already passed and forwarded to the municipal board for the towns required review. Dyer said the school budget includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for employees and step increases across the pay scale, and he proposed adding a new step 20 for eligible teachers whose pay scale had previously ended at step 19. "We have proposed a cost of living increase for all of our employees of 3%," Dyer said.

Dyer told the board the schools budget increases teacher salaries and benefits by about $6,224,491 compared with last school year and includes a midyear bonus structure. He said $2,000 of the midyear bonus for eligible teachers comes from state funds allocated through the state, with an additional $500 available to other eligible employees and a $250 payment proposed for substitute teachers who meet minimum standards. The proposal adds positions to respond to enrollment growth: 15 general education teachers, five special education teachers, two career and technical teachers, one school counselor, two instructional coaches (pilot), and one general maintenance technician for operations.

Dyer reported the school general fund total at $132,351,973 and said the district is projecting K-12 enrollment at 9,509 students using a new projection tool; he added the district expects to use roughly $6.9 million from reserves to balance its budget. Dyer described ongoing capital and renovation work at several schools, including elevator work and interior renovations, and said the system is continuing a device refresh and safety investments such as wearable "Raptor Badgler" alert devices for staff.

Town staff followed with the towns proposed fiscal year 2026 budget. The presenter reviewed town facts and major services supported by the budget, including 740 lane miles of streets, about 750 acres of parkland, and an estimated 2025 population of 55,789. The presentation summarized revenues (about $93.6 million) and expenditures (about $85.5 million) for the general fund and highlighted major allocations: public safety (about 47.4% of general fund), infrastructure (about 24.2%), recreation and culture, and education support (approximately 11.3%). The proposed budget includes a 5% general wage increase for town employees and funding for three new patrol officers and phase 2 of the patrol officer pay plan.

Town staff described a capital investment program (CIP) of about $14 million that includes network infrastructure upgrades, fire administration expansion, equipment purchases, and a $3 million carryover for the library project. The presentation also covered the Water and Sewer Fund (about $17.9 million in revenue and $17.8 million in expenditures) and a continuing 10-year rate implementation; staff said the presentations rate adjustment would translate to an average household monthly increase of approximately $2.67. The Sanitation Fund will spend on new collection vehicles and equipment and is drawing down its fund balance, which staff said may prompt a future fee adjustment.

Board members asked a few procedural and clarifying questions. One resident asked whether recycling remains part of the budget; staff confirmed recycling collection continues and that it is not a profit center, and staff agreed to provide the percentage of residents who recycle.

Because this meeting was a public hearing only, the board took no vote on the budgets Tuesday. Staff said they will present a resolution for formal adoption at the boards June 9 meeting.