The Pickens County School Board on Monday approved a FY25 budget amendment and voted to adopt a tentative budget for fiscal year 2026 after a financial update from Chief Financial Officer Amy Smith.

Smith told the board the district had collected roughly 99.56% of its budgeted general fund revenue to date and that, at the moment of her report, expenditures were about 93.44% of budgeted amounts. "The total general fund expenditure total is 63,000,000, $809,822," Smith said during the presentation. She cautioned that the June report was not final and that some late bills would be posted in July.

The budget presentation stressed two mandated cost increases that drove much of the FY26 pressure: a 1.13% rise in the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) employer contribution and a larger, two‑phase increase in the state health insurance contribution. Smith said the district’s share of the state health benefit increase for participating employees is about $762,000; combined with the TRS rise, she said the district faces “over a $1,000,000 increase” in employer costs driven by state actions. Smith said the district nevertheless limited overall general fund spending growth to 0.95% over the current year.

Board members moved and seconded motions to approve the FY25 amendment and to accept the FY26 tentative budget as presented; both motions passed on voice votes with "all in favor" called by the chair. The meeting included a public hearing on the FY26 budget; no members of the public spoke.

Why it matters: The budget sets teacher supplements, benefits and operating plans for classrooms, and Smith said maintaining a 1% certified employee supplement remains part of the FY26 proposal. The board and administration said they trimmed operating costs and reviewed software and salary lines to absorb mandated increases.

Details and follow-ups
- Smith reported the district collected $794,003.47 on average per month and a total collections figure reported as $30,401,645.67 to date.
- The district expects additional tax and grant receipts (property taxes, intangible transfer taxes, special revenues) over the next two months that will change final year totals.
- Board discussion noted a potential delay in the county digest because of recent state changes (House Bill 581) that could push property valuation notices a few weeks later than usual.

The board also approved a personnel action report and several consent agenda items that administrators said were routine; details on personnel actions were included on the consent agenda. The board set a final vote on the FY26 budget after required public notice and hearings later in the adoption cycle.

The board chair closed the financial items and directed staff to continue monitoring late June invoices and state notices affecting the digest and revenue estimates.