Wilson County Schools asks for budget increase as retirement costs, security systems and charter distributions rise

Wilson County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Lane Mills told the Wilson County Board of Commissioners that the district’s 2025–26 appropriation request is a little over $31 million, with total revenues presented to commissioners at about $32 million and a capital-outlay ask of $1.5 million. Mills said several structural cost drivers — retirement contribution increases, higher health-insurance costs, potential state salary commitments and charter-school distributions — are constraining the district’s discretionary budget.

Why it matters: Mills said mandatory costs and safety investments are occupying a growing share of the local budget, leaving less flexibility for other priorities. He asked the county to consider those pressures as it prepares the 2025–26 budget.

Mills highlighted drivers of the request, including retirement contribution assumptions and state-level salary proposals. He said the district had planned for a 26% retirement contribution rate but noted a recent release showing a 24.67% value; Mills described these figures as part of continuing legislative uncertainty. On teacher pay, he cited a Senate proposal that would average a 2.3% increase for teachers over two years and include bonus structures for teachers and principals; Mills said the district is monitoring the situation because state decisions will affect local budgeting.

The superintendent told commissioners the district is prioritizing several areas inside the local control envelope. The board voted to increase supplement levels for staff by 1% and asked administration to develop a tiered, flat-dollar supplement proposal tied to years of service to improve retention for skilled, noncertified staff such as maintenance, transportation and technical workers.

Mills also discussed charter-school distributions, which he said currently account for about 16% of the district’s budget. He said the district provides appropriations for students domiciled in Wilson County who attend charter schools; the presentation put the current distribution at roughly $4.2 million and estimated it could be about $4.5 million next year. Mills said the figure follows the law and reduces local flexibility because funds follow students.

On school safety, Mills described completed and in-progress investments. He said the district has installed Evolved Weapons Detection Systems and Open Gate Systems in high schools and is configuring different entry strategies for middle schools because of bus and transportation patterns. Mills said the district is seeking grants and noted ongoing licensing and maintenance costs for the systems. He listed completed vestibule projects at Bedingfield, New Hope and Vincent Bonham elementary schools; he said work at Vince and Barnum would be installed over the summer and that the board approved a request for qualifications to design and build vestibules for the next group of schools, including M City Middle, Fike and Hunt.

Mills shared progress on capital repairs and projects: the district expects to move students back into Springfield Middle School in January under an insurance-funded reconstruction plan, and he displayed photos of modular units and renovated spaces used while permanent work proceeds. He also showed completed work on Hunt High School’s eight-lane track and named other completed playground, ADA and building-improvement projects.

Mills said the Board of Education engaged Dewberry Engineers to perform a facility condition assessment of all schools and administrative buildings; a draft report is complete and will feed the state NCDPI facility-needs assessment and help the board set capital priorities. He said 90% design drawings for a modified plan for the new Frederick Douglass school are expected in August.

On early education and Title I, Mills said the district currently fills 51 NC Pre-K slots and that the district is spending about $1.2 million of Title I funds on pre-K programming (about 20% of Title I allocation). He said the district is near capacity for its Title I-supported pre-K program.

Commissioners asked for clarification on charter counts and pre-K enrollment. Mills said the 26 charter schools cited in his slides represent students domiciled in Wilson County who attend charter schools; he did not supply a definitive count of which charter schools are physically located inside the county during the presentation. Anna Collins, the district’s finance officer, offered additional slot-level detail upon request. The presentation closed after a period of questions and the commissioners’ thanks.

Ending: The district made multiple budget and capital requests; commissioners and district leaders indicated ongoing coordination and follow‑up as the county and school board continue budget planning.