Pickens County board approves $187.24 million FY 2026 general fund budget with no tax increase

The Pickens County School District Board of Trustees voted to approve the second reading of the FY 2026 general fund budget, a balanced plan totaling $187,236,124 that does not raise local property taxes.

District finance staff presented the budget on the evening the board considered staff recommendations, teacher pay changes and staffing additions. "The second reading does not include a tax increase and is balanced in the amount of $187,236,124 without the use of fund balance or tax increase," the presenter said during the budget summary. The board approved the second reading by voice/hand vote with no recorded opposition.

The budget package includes a $1,500 across-the-board increase to each step of the state-certified teacher salary schedule and a separate year-of-experience increase for eligible employees. "This $1,500 increase will put our starting pay for a bachelor's degree at $50,600 and for a master's degree at $55,600," the presenter said. The administration said the average total increase for teachers, combining the scale increase and step movement, is about 3.3%, with individual increases ranging from roughly 2.2% to 4.7% depending on degree level and years of experience.

Other salary and staffing measures in the budget include a 2% increase to the classified pay scale, a band reclassification for custodians (moving from band C to band D), enhancements to the nursing salary schedule, and funds to add full-time equivalent (FTE) positions for special education services. The presentation also noted an addition of 9.5 FTE to provide full-time receptionists at elementary schools that currently lack them; administration said receptionists will provide a consistent point of contact for families and support school safety.

Presenters described how the district is financing the increase. Over the past five years, the general fund rose by about $57.3 million, driven primarily by state allocations and local growth. The presenter broke the increase down: about 37.4% from additional local levies, 58.2% from additional state allocations, and remaining increases from transfers and other sources. On expenditures, the presenter attributed roughly 23% of the recent increase to state-mandated compensation-related costs and pointed to teacher-pay initiatives and program investments as significant drivers.

Board members asked for clarifications about specific line items. One trustee asked whether the district would continue honoring the previous "bachelor’s +18" placement on the schedule; staff said they will maintain that placement for current employees until the state or future policy requires a change. A trustee pressed for a quantified cost of continuing that placement; staff said the figure was not available at the time but could be provided later.

The administration also described constraints on raising the millage for FY 2026. Under the local special legislation that applies to Pickens County and the state formulas cited by staff, the district calculated that its allowable local levy increase for FY 2026 is zero. The presenter explained the sequence of calculations using the district's local revenue base and the state-provided growth factor; because the district is bound by a restrictive local law enacted in 1981, board members were told the district cannot pursue a millage increase for this budget cycle. Several trustees remarked that the board should revisit that special legislation in the future.

Administration said the district will complete a formal rollback calculation after county reassessment data are finalized (expected late June or July) and will place an item on the August board agenda to set the official millage once reassessment figures are available.

After the budget vote the board recessed into executive session for personnel, property, contractual, school safety and legal matters and then returned and conducted votes: a motion to approve a leave-of-absence request received no second and therefore failed for lack of motion; a later motion to approve personnel matters (hires, separations, and related items) passed by voice/hand vote. The board then adjourned.

Why it matters: The approved budget funds teacher-pay increases, additional school staffing and student support positions while preserving the district's current millage rate for FY 2026. Trustees said the package is intended to help recruit and retain staff and to support special education and school safety needs; the final millage and some precise cost figures remain contingent on upcoming reassessment data and follow-up staff reports.

The board plans to return in August to set the official millage rate after the county completes property reassessment. Staff also committed to provide a specific cost estimate for continuing "bachelor’s +18" placements and any other requested line-item clarifications.