Rockdale County presents FY26 tentative budget; board moves separate vote for tentative adoption

Rockdale County Public Schools presented its FY26 tentative budget during the work session. The district's finance presenter reported estimated revenues of $227,139,815 and proposed expenditures of $231,523,971, projecting a draw on fund balance of roughly $4.4 million.

Presenter Miss Smith reported April revenues of $10.9 million and year-to-date revenues representing 90.5% of budget. Expenditures for April were $18.0 million and year-to-date expenditures represented 81.3% of budget. The district reported a fund balance of $45,771,239, assets of $52,478,637 and liabilities of $6,707,398.

Highlights noted in the tentative budget include a step increase for all staff, stipends for special education teachers, increases to athletic supplements for some head coaches, and maintenance of a 2% alternative retirement contribution. The presenter said department and central-office reductions contributed to lowering personnel overhead and that many department budgets were reduced where possible.

The superintendent will recommend that the Board adopt the FY26 tentative budget as presented; state board policy requires adoption of a tentative budget so that public hearings may be held before the final budget is recommended in June. During the work session a board member requested that the tentative budget be removed from the consent agenda so it can be considered as a separate vote; the board agreed and placed item 2 on the new-business agenda for the regular session.

No final adoption occurred at the work session. Formal adoption and associated public hearings are scheduled as part of the board's regular meeting cycle.