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Business services presents FY26 tentative budget: $119.1M revenue, $120.5M expenditures
Summary
Business services presented the fiscal year 2026 tentative budget on May 12, projecting $119.1 million in revenues and $120.5 million in expenditures, built on a rollback millage of 13.919 mills and reflecting state-driven cost increases for health insurance and TRS.
Business services staff presented the Oconee County Schools fiscal year 2026 tentative budget at the May 12 board meeting, reporting estimated revenues of $119,100,000 and estimated expenditures of $120,500,000. The tentative budget was built on an estimated rollback millage rate of 13.919 mills and was approved for consideration by the board in a 5-0 vote.
Business services presenter Mr. Adams told the board that the April closing cash balance “represents a 2.39 percent decrease over last month” but called the balance “strong” and said the district is well positioned to meet fiscal obligations for the year. The presentation showed state revenue projected at $62,500,000 (53% of total), with Quality Basic Education (QBE) funding making up $59,300,000 of that amount. Local revenue is projected at $56,500,000, with ad valorem property taxes estimated at $51,000,000.
Staff listed several state-driven cost increases that factored into the tentative budget: a proposed step increase for certified and classified salary scales (total estimated local cost $1,080,000); a proposed state increase in employer health-insurance contribution (presented as a total local cost of $3,080,000); and a proposed increase in the Teacher Retirement System (TRS) employer percentage (presented as a local cost of $1,200,000). The presentation also included a $2,500,000 school safety and security program line—staff described that amount as funding a full complement of 16 school resource officers (SROs) and related school-safety expenditures.
Staff reported tentative total expenditures of $120,500,000, with salaries and benefits accounting for $106,600,000 (about 88.5% of total expenditures under the additional considerations) and operations at $13,800,000 (about 11.5%). Staff estimated the district's ending fiscal year 2025 fund balance at $40,000,000, with $13,400,000 committed for future debt payments on the 2021 general obligation bond and $2,020,000 assigned for specific projects (new school generators and intercoms at Malcolm Bridge Middle and Oconee Middle). Staff estimated an unassigned fund balance of $24,500,000 on June 30, 2025.
Board members asked clarifying questions during the presentation. One member asked whether the SRO costs were included in personnel or operations; staff replied most of the SRO contract falls in operations because it is a contracted service, with a small portion (door-checker/zone patrol salary elements) classified as personnel. A board member also asked where the completed FY24 audit could be found; staff said the audit, which had no findings, was posted to the district website.
Staff noted that budget hearings are scheduled for May 22 and May 29 in the boardroom; the tentative budgets were presented to the board for consideration and public review ahead of final adoption later in the budget calendar.
