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Rome CSD presents $165 million budget with 2.89% levy, cites safety and staff additions
Summary
District staff presented a proposed $165,000,000 budget for 2026–27 with a 2.89% tax levy, highlighting new instructional hires, security upgrades, facility repairs and a two‑bus proposition; the budget hearing concluded without a vote on final adoption.
The Rome City School District presented a proposed $165,000,000 budget for the 2026–27 school year that would raise the tax levy by 2.89% and prioritize classroom spending, district officials said at a public hearing Tuesday evening.
The presenter said roughly 80% of the proposed spending is dedicated to instructional programs, with about 7% allocated for administration. The proposal includes an additional math teacher and an additional biology teacher, new unified-sports programming, investments in school safety — such as door‑hardening measures and mobile shades for lockdown scenarios — facility work including paving behind Rome Free Academy and a septic replacement at Stokes, gym padding at Bellamy, and a bus proposition to buy two 66‑passenger diesel buses.
"We wanted to make sure that as we built our budget, we built it with purpose," the presenter said, adding that the district spent months developing numbers for contract and insurance increases and worked with principals and directors to align requests with the district strategic plan.
The presenter told the board and community that the additional buses are intended to help bridge a transition should the district face a mandate to move to electric buses for the 2027–28 year. The budget handout circulated to attendees describes the bus proposition as two 66‑passenger diesel buses.
The budget hearing concluded after public and board questions and a motion to adjourn the hearing was approved by voice vote.
Why it matters: District officials said the proposed budget prioritizes classroom instruction while funding safety and operational needs; the tax-levy increase will appear on the district's annual meeting and budget vote materials. The board announced it would continue conversations about the district's five‑year plan and long‑term levy strategy this fall.
The board did not adopt the budget at the hearing; the budget proposal will be presented to voters at the district's legally scheduled vote on May 19, 2026, unless changed by subsequent board action.
