Jefferson County school board approves 2026–27 budget, permits up to $750,000 in tax-growth spending for buses and student devices

The Jefferson County School Board approved its 2026–27 school-year budget at a special meeting and authorized the school district finance director to use up to $750,000 in property-tax growth to purchase buses and student devices.

A board member moved, "I move to approve the 2026 2027 school budget," and another member seconded. After brief discussion, the chair called for those in favor to raise their right hand and stated, "I believe I'm counting that six zero," declaring the budget approved.

Board member Doug then moved "to allow the school district finance director to utilize property tax growth for bus and student devices as needed to balance the 2026 27 school year budget said amount not to exceed $750,000." Paul seconded the motion. Dr. Arnold explained the budget detail to the board, saying the finance director had not yet received the final growth figure from county staff member Susan Gas and that the county commission must allow the district to receive the money. "I feel like it'll be more than a hundred, less than half a million," Dr. Arnold said of the likely growth amount.

The chair called for a hand vote on the authorization to use tax-growth funds and declared the motion passed. The transcript records the chair stating a tally as "I believe that's 64 zero" followed immediately by "zero against that motion passes." Because the transcript's recorded tally is unclear, the precise vote count for that authorization is not specified in the record provided.

The meeting concluded after a motion to adjourn was made and seconded.

The authorization allows the finance director to budget up to $750,000 from property-tax growth for buses and student devices if and when the county commission approves release of the growth revenue; no additional allocations or spending details were specified at the meeting.