District previews 2026–27 budget, staff say teacher pay raise largely tied to state actions

District finance staff presented preliminary 2026–27 budget figures and a planning timeline, telling trustees that available state numbers from the House Ways and Means Committee point to a modest revenue increase but that full detail is still pending from the state department of education.

Miss Morgan reported year‑to‑date figures for the general fund and outlined expenditure trends; Mr. Wood summarized the House budget signal that each teacher pay step would rise by $2,000 if the state plan holds, and staff modeled a revenue increase that could provide roughly $150–$160 per teacher step across the district under the House proposal. Administrators cautioned that the Senate debate and final state allocations could change those numbers.

Staff said the district is currently modeling an approximate $125,000 shortfall between expenditures and revenue in preliminary planning but reiterated the board’s stated goal to produce a balanced budget without a local millage increase. Trustees were told additional details will be available before the board’s May meeting and that the district will present revised revenue and expenditure estimates in advance of the joint county council meeting on April 30.

Board members and staff reviewed specific departmental and school requests—curriculum materials, shading for playgrounds, classroom furniture refreshes, and an estimated $150,000 activity bus replacement—and discussed potential funding sources including federal programs, title funds, capital funds and general obligation bonds.