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Pendleton County board approves 2026–27 levy rates, OKs personnel moves and step‑seven transfer
Summary
The Pendleton County Board of Education approved the fiscal‑year 2026–2027 levy order, accepted a bus driver retirement, and authorized use of 25% of state 'step seven' funds for personnel, while the superintendent outlined a tighter but balanced preliminary FY27 budget and audit highlights.
The Pendleton County Board of Education voted April 21 to approve the local levy order for fiscal year 2026–2027 following a superintendent recommendation and voice vote.
The board also accepted the retirement of school bus operator Randall Smith, effective June 30, 2026, and approved a slate of personnel appointments, including extracurricular coaches, tutors and substitute staff. The personnel recommendations were presented by the superintendent and approved by motions and voice votes.
In finance business, the board authorized using 25% of the state "step seven" block grant—part of a projected $426,833 in step seven funding for 2027—for personnel, and approved transferring $106,708 into that personnel portion. The superintendent described the step seven allocation as historically used for improvement of instruction and for materials, stipends and textbooks; the board approved the recommendation by voice vote.
The superintendent framed the FY27 preliminary budget as balanced but tighter than prior years, noting a roughly $100,000 increase in state aid offset in part by a 3% pay raise and a drop in enrollment that reduced state funding. Key cost drivers cited included personnel (about 85% of the budget), electricity, repairs and maintenance, and propane; bus replacement is not included in the FY27 capital budget. The superintendent said the district projects a fund balance in the $1.75 million to $1.9 million range depending on year‑end outcomes.
The board also reviewed the recently completed June 30, 2025 audit; the superintendent highlighted that the audit returned no findings.
Most motions and approvals at the meeting were recorded as voice votes; the transcript does not include numeric tallies for the recorded ayes and nays. The board scheduled further budget review and a public hearing for the second May meeting as part of the adoption process.
Next procedural steps: the board will present a more complete budget for public inspection at the first May meeting and hold the official budget approval at the second May meeting.
