Macon County Schools presents $15.7 million ask; commissioners debate priorities including Highlands athletic field and East Franklin study

Macon County Schools delivered a multi-part budget presentation to the county commissioners, asking the board to fund a maintain budget, a set of top priorities and an expansion package that together would raise the district's request to about $15.7 million for fiscal 2025'26.

The district presented its legislative timeline, fund structure and a three-tiered request: a maintain budget to cover projected salary and benefit increases and other baseline costs; a list of "top priorities" that included instructional coaches, two full-time art and two full-time music teachers, an instructional technology facilitator, and school nutrition support for two schools; and an "expansion" package of school-level personnel and equipment requests gathered from principals. The superintendent's representative said the county appropriation currently funds a large share of local positions paid from county funds, and stressed that state funding does not fully cover local needs.

The county commissioners pressed for specifics and pushed…