Williamson County board approves $571.68 million 2026–27 budget after restoring $2.2M for textbooks

The Williamson County Board of Education unanimously approved the 2026–27 general fund budget on March 23, voting 11–0 to adopt a $571,684,432 spending plan after adding an amendment to restore $2.2 million for an elementary social studies textbook adoption.

The board’s vote followed a presentation from Superintendent Golden outlining a roughly $39 million gap when the budget was first proposed and steps staff took to reduce that gap through expense cuts and revenue updates. Golden said staff eliminated more than $4 million in operational expenses, cut about $5.657 million in personnel costs and accounted for roughly $12.5 million to match a proposed 4% pay increase for teachers and staff — leaving a revised gap of about $20.1 million before the textbook amendment.

Chair (speaker 2) moved the amendment to restore $2.2 million so the district could complete the elementary social studies adoption this cycle rather than delay purchases. After board discussion about timing and the adoption cycle, the amendment passed on a roll call read by the clerk as 11 yes, 0 no (one member absent). With that amendment, staff reported the remaining projected funding gap at about $22.3 million that the district will present to the county commission as it considers county funding and final budget action.

Board member Dr. Johnson earlier moved to remove roughly $11.3 million for instructional coaching positions to free funds for larger teacher raises; that motion failed for lack of a second. Several board members, including speaker 14, emphasized the district’s history of high student outcomes and urged the county commission to identify local dollars to preserve teacher raises and essential services.

Finance staff (Rachel Farmer) provided the technical numbers during debate, and Superintendent Golden said the district must submit the budget to the county commission by April 1. Golden recommended approval of the amendment and final budget. The board then voted 11–0 to approve the general fund budget as amended.

The meeting also recorded unanimous votes to approve the central cafeteria fund budget, the extended school (SAC) fund budget and a $13.665 million capital outlay request for repairs across district facilities. The board approved a package of high school courses and the textbook committee’s health and college-and-career-technical (CTE) recommendations during the same meeting.

Next steps: the adopted budget — and the board’s request to the county for the remaining gap — moves to the county commission’s budget process; the commission is expected to consider final county funding and vote on the county budget in June.