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Gilmer County Board of Education adopts $14.0M FY26 budget; no across‑the‑board pay increase
Summary
After a budget workshop and line‑by‑line review, the Gilmer County Board of Education approved a $14,000,003.74 Fund 11 budget for fiscal year 2026 and opted not to grant a district‑wide salary increase; officials said higher PEIA costs and targeted staffing changes drive the plan.
The Gilmer County Board of Education on May 12 adopted its fiscal year 2026 operating budget after a detailed workshop and line‑item review.
Superintendent Doctor Minnie led the session explaining the legal framework for local boards and the superintendent’s duties under state law, then staff walked the board through revenue assumptions and projected expenses. ‘‘Our total state aid is $6,843,920,’’ Doctor Minnie said, summarizing the state allocation that helps fund the district.
Ginger, the district staff member presenting the budget, told the board there will be no across‑the‑board salary increase for FY26, though staff who qualify will still receive routine annual increments. ‘‘There was no salary increase for ’26,’’ Ginger said, adding that professional increments are about $587 a year and service increments about $320.
Board materials show the district’s Fund 11 operating budget total at $14,000,003.74. Ginger said a major pressure on the budget this year is higher employee insurance costs; she told the board that locally observed PEIA increases appear near 20 percent, above widely reported estimates. The budget also incorporates targeted staffing changes — including two additional interventionists and a third‑grade teaching allocation — and funding for medically fragile student supports.
Officials described a carryover strategy that preserves roughly $1.7 million in reserves as an estimate, with planned use of about $1.4 million of carryover for one‑time projects. ‘‘As long as we’re funding projects that are not ongoing, we’re not living off our savings account,’’ Ginger said, explaining the philosophy behind the reserve plan.
Board members posed questions about textbook ordering and how the block schedule affects book counts; Ginger said Miss West is evaluating textbook needs and that block scheduling should reduce the number of copies required for some courses.
The motion to adopt the FY26 budget as presented was moved and seconded; the board approved the budget by voice vote.
