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Murfreesboro board approves FY27 budget, adopts salary increases and limited pay boost for attendance secretaries
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Summary
The Murfreesboro City Schools Board on April 28 approved its FY27 general purpose budget and certified/classified salary schedule, endorsing a 3.3% certified and 2% classified pay approach and adopting a substituted amendment to raise attendance-secretary pay on an individualized basis (not to exceed 10%), with an estimated $1.8 million added for salaries.
The Murfreesboro City Schools Board of Education approved its fiscal year 2027 budget on April 28, voting to adopt the general purpose budget ("budget D") that incorporates new salary schedules and two late amendments the board had approved earlier in the meeting.
Director of Schools David (Dr.) Duke told the board the district projects roughly $119.4 million in revenues for FY27 and recommended salary adjustments intended to preserve competitiveness: a 2% across-the-board increase for classified staff (plus any step or longevity increases) and a 3.3% approach for certified staff that builds step increases into the percentage to better target pay in years 17–25 of service. "For every 1% increase in pay, that's about an additional $910,000," Dr. Duke said, describing the board's priorities as compensating staff and maintaining a healthy fund balance.
Why it matters: the board is managing a year of constrained revenue growth — the presentation noted a projected ~2% increase in total revenues driven largely by sales tax, while state TISA and property tax funding are essentially level. District leaders said roughly 86% of the budget goes to salaries and benefits, so modest percentage changes materially affect the district's finances.
Amendment for attendance secretaries: Board member Barbara Long proposed, and the board adopted, substitute language clarifying an amendment that allows individualized adjustments to hourly pay for attendance (attendant) secretaries to more closely align them with school bookkeeper pay, not to exceed 10% of the hourly rate. Dr. Duke said the district reviewed lanes and would only apply increases where appropriate, estimating the amendment's total cost at about $40,000. The substitute passed on a roll-call vote of 6–1 (Jimmy Richardson voted nay)."We would bring them up to bookkeeper pay where the gap exists," Dr. Duke said, adding the district would cap increases so attendance secretaries would not exceed bookkeeper pay.
Budget totals and trade-offs: Dr. Duke said the budget includes approximately $1.8 million in new funds dedicated to employee salaries and benefits, $405,000 to move counselor/behavioral coach positions from grant to operating funds, about $218,000 for device replacement, and a $125,000 transition cost for a new student information system. To keep the budget in balance the district proposed staffing reductions by attrition (13 certified and nine classified positions) and other line-item reductions. The presentation estimated the district would use a portion of reserves—about 4.6%—to balance this year, keeping the projected unassigned fund balance above the board's 10% goal.
Vote and next steps: The board approved the certified and classified salary chart as amended and voted to adopt budget D by voice vote. The chair said the adopted budget and pay chart would proceed to the city and state review stages as required. Dr. Duke and finance staff said they will continue monthly monitoring and would return to the board if further amendments are needed.
Budget effect on services: During debate, board members pressed on where trade-offs were made; several described program reductions and the loss of positions (for example, a small reduction in special-education staffing and a one-position reduction in mental-health therapist coverage by attrition). "These dollars are meaningful," said board member Jimmy Richardson, describing reductions already factored into the budget. Dr. Duke said the district will monitor enrollment and expenditures and make adjustments as necessary.
The board also approved related fund budgets in the same meeting — federal funds, the Extended School Program (ESP), school nutrition, debt service and the local 21st Century grant — all by voice vote.
What the board did not do: The board did not reinstate positions that were removed by attrition at this meeting. A separate proposed amendment to restore one mental-health therapist was introduced and discussed but was withdrawn by its mover.
The board adjourned after approving the full slate of budgets.
