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Fort Mill administration proposes $271.7M 2026–27 budget, recommends millage increase and targeted staff additions
Summary
Administrators proposed a $271.7 million general fund for 2026–27 that includes a $2,000 teacher pay increase per cell, the opening of Flint Hill Middle School with 44 new FTEs, and a proposed 10.5–11.5 mill property tax change offset by a 1.5-mill debt reduction; the board set up a public hearing and after executive session approved 24 replacement and six new certified positions plus appointed a director of student services.
The Fort Mill School District administration on Tuesday presented a recommended general fund budget for 2026–27 totaling approximately $271.7 million, a proposed 6.8% increase from the current year that reflects pay increases, the opening of Flint Hill Middle School and targeted program investments.
Miss Bordeaux summarized the numbers: total revenues year-to-date are $219.68 million and total expenditures $180.36 million; the recommended 2026–27 plan assumes projected enrollment of about 18,818 students and includes a $2,000 increase on each teacher pay cell, 2.5% cost-of-living adjustments for eligible staff and step increases where applicable. Opening the new middle school accounts for roughly $5 million of the increase and requires about 44 new full-time equivalents to staff the facility.
Administrators recommended funding priorities in a tiered approach (categories 1–4). Category 1 covers required inflationary and operating expenses, category 2 includes targeted additions such as an extra ESOL teacher and a district web master, category 3 includes investments like increased general-fund support for band and athletics and three high-school testing coordinators, and category 4 would add four elementary math coaches and four new four-year-old pre-K classes.
To fund the plan, the administration proposed using available revenue and noted a recommended property tax increase in the 10.5-mill range (based on the consumer price index and other adjustments). Because the district received a $600,000 bond premium from a recent successful Series 2026A sale, administrators said they will use the premium to reduce the debt millage by 1.5 mills (from 86 to 84) which could offset part of the tax increase and allow funding for additional priorities without raising net burden as much as anticipated. The board instructed staff to advertise a public hearing for June 19 while the district waits for final updated state allocations before final adoption.
During executive session the board approved two personnel motions in open session: acceptance of the administration's recommendation for 24 replacement and six new certified positions (motion approved by voice) and the appointment of 'Candidate A' as director of student services (motion approved by voice). The board also reviewed a nutrition report proposing a five-cent per meal increase to help the student nutrition fund cover a 2.5% COLA and maintain paid-lunch equity; staff said the final vote on meal prices requires formal placement on the agenda at a future meeting.
