Union County schools finance committee backs $1,000 teacher supplement recommendation to full board

The Union County Public Schools Finance Committee on Oct. 21 reviewed the district's 2025-26 budget outlook and voted to forward to the full Board of Education a recommendation to provide a $1,000 annual teacher supplement, to be implemented in the November payroll and paid retroactively to July 2025.

Shauna McLamb, chief financial officer for Union County Public Schools, told the committee the district is operating on a state-authorized continuation budget and a July 2025 General Assembly "mini bill" that allowed step increases for staff on the state salary schedule and authorized some enrollment and implementation funds. McLamb said mandated step, retirement and insurance cost increases absorbed about $1,700,000 of the district's locally requested funding. She said the board originally requested a $14,600,000 local increase; the Union County Board of Commissioners approved $8,800,000. That funding, McLamb said, left roughly $2,700,000 available after addressing mandated increases and higher-than-expected charter-school payments.

"With step increases and the mandatory retirement increase that we had to provide to all employees as well as the hospital insurance…