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APS staff propose extending $2,000 appreciation stipend districtwide; board warns of referendum risk from pending bill
Summary
CFO Dr. Lisa Bracken told the board APS will receive $9.9 million from the state for eligible employees but is proposing a districtwide extension that would cost an additional $7.2 million (total $17.1M impact), funded from fund balance; board members also discussed House Bill 1116 and the potential need for referendums if digest growth exceeds 3%.
Dr. Lisa Bracken presented the district's FY26 financials and a recommended midyear budget adjustment related to a state-proposed $2,000 appreciation stipend. Bracken said the stateis providing approximately $9.9 million to APS for employees funded through the state QBE allotment, and APS leadership proposed extending the $2,000 payment to employees not covered by that formula at a district cost of $7.2 million, raising the total FY26 impact to $17.1 million and increasing proposed use of fund balance from $13 million to $20 million.
Bracken walked the board through eligibility details: full-time employees hired before Jan. 2, 2026 would be eligible, part-time employees would receive a prorated payment, and substitutes who worked more than 50% of available days from the first day of school through March 15 could receive up to $1,000. The district intends to pay the stipend with the April 15 payroll pending board action.
Board members expressed broad support for extending the stipend but also raised questions about how the move affects the districtfund balance and longer-term revenue risks. Bracken flagged House Bill 1116, a legislative measure that contains provisions to require districts to go to referendum when the digest exceeds 3%, creating severe timing and cost implications for school budgets. Bracken said the district had closely watched the legislative session and noted that referendums can be costly (the district previously spent $4.6 million on an off-cycle vote).
Board members also pressed district leaders about tax allocation districts (TADs) and commercial property assessments; Bracken and Dr. Brian Johnson said APS estimates that under-assessment of commercial properties may be leaving "over $100 million to $200 million" in annual revenue on the table, and the board discussed coordinating with Fulton County and the City of Atlanta to bolster assessor capacity or legal resources to recover revenue.
The meeting contained no final vote on the stipend at this time; the board signaled support and asked staff to return with the formal agenda items and budget commission materials, including a public-facing one-pager about TADs and further detail on commercial assessment impacts and potential remedies.
