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Washington County board advances draft 2026–27 school budget with pay increases, asks county for partial funding
Summary
At a meeting, the Washington County School Board moved to adopt a draft 2026–27 school budget that includes a $1-per-hour option for noncertified staff, step increases for teachers and a 2–3% option for system management; the board voted to advance the draft and to ask the county commission for roughly half the shortfall. The transcript records a vote but does not include a full tally.
At a meeting, the Washington County School Board moved to adopt a draft 2026–27 school budget that includes pay increases for noncertified staff, step increases for teachers, and options for 2% or 3% raises for system-management salaries. The board also instructed staff to ask the county commission for partial funding to cover a remaining budget gap.
Mister Boyd, the staff presenter, told members the summary sheet and a budget-change form were in the packet and walked through the board's requested options, including either a 50¢-per-hour or a $1-per-hour raise for noncertified staff (the 50¢ option was presented with a cost figure of $367,312 for the district as stated in the meeting). He also presented cost estimates for management raises and coach supplement increases, saying, "A 2% increase in salary for that group is $124,750; the 3% increase would be $187,125." Boyd provided a 25% coaching-supplement cost of $117,009.65 and a 100% increase cost of $477,179, and asked the board to indicate which option or combination they preferred.
The discussion turned to the size of the funding gap. Staff explained the draft reflects a funding shortfall the transcript refers to as about $7.7 million, and noted last year's budget used just over $6,000,000 in reserves, with roughly $3,000,000 actually expended during the year. Staff also outlined revenue assumptions the draft relies on: an additional $250,000 in property-tax revenue compared with last year and projected sales-tax collections raised from $21,000,000 to $22,000,000 based on recent collection trends.
Committee member Mister Flynn moved to adopt the draft with the dollar-per-hour option for noncertified staff, a 3% increase for system management, the three additional special-education teacher positions and the coaching-supplement adjustments shown in the packet, and to request roughly half (about $3.885 million, as described in the motion) of the remaining funding from the county commission; Mister Walters was named as the second. The board proceeded to a vote. The transcript records at least one affirmative vote but does not include a complete roll call or final tally.
A committee member who spoke after the vote criticized recent state voucher increases, saying the board would prefer more resources for teacher aides, classroom instruction and smaller class sizes rather than policies that, in their view, advantage private schools over public systems. The chair then adjourned the meeting and called a 10-minute recess before a scheduled workshop.
Why it matters: The draft advances key pay changes that would affect bus drivers, noncertified staff and management and sets a path for the Washington County School Board to seek county support to close the budget gap. Staff will send the draft to Mayor Randy by May 1 and begin discussions with the county commission's budget committee and the full commission, where the final level of county support and the district's use of fund balance will be decided.
