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Paulding board reviews tentative FY27 budget, presenters flag $66M in expected grants and no tax increase
Summary
Board staff presented the tentative FY27 budget showing an approximate general fund of $446.3M, expected grants totaling $66M (equalization $38M), and a multi-million safety/security allocation; board members noted there will be no tax increase this year and urged constituents to press state legislators about QBE funding.
Board staff presented a tentative FY27 budget and a grants overview during the meeting and answered questions from board members about state funding and local impacts.
Amber, introduced by Superintendent Barnett as the budget presenter, told the board the tentative general fund revenue is approximately $446.3 million, an increase of about $1.2 million from the prior presentation. Enrollment projections show a net increase of 32 students for FY27 with about 0.9% attending virtually. Amber said salaries and benefits represent roughly 90% of expenditures and that allotments added staff for the opening of Crossroads Elementary School.
Grants presenter Abby Dodd summarized 39 anticipated grants totaling about $66 million; she said QBE grants represent roughly 72% of that total and listed equalization at $38 million. Dodd identified general fund grants totaling $2.8 million: the Medicaid/state-funded portion ($1.8 million), CTI/E ($425,000), a mental and behavioral health grant ($300,000, new for FY26), and a school security grant ($280,000). Special revenue grants were listed at $15.6 million, with special education ($5.8 million) and Title programs ($5.7 million) the largest shares; E-rate discounts were noted at $3.2 million.
Board members pressed staff on equalization (QBE) funding increases and urged public outreach to state legislators. One board member characterized the QBE formula as unchanged for decades and said fuller state funding could reduce local property-tax burdens. Superintendent Barnett noted the district remains among the top recipients of equalization funds and described how moved expenses and the rollback rate play into overall tax impacts.
Barnett said the tentative budget reflects a rollback millage rate of 17.817 and emphasized there will be no tax increase for the district this year; he also said the district plans to spend about $6.5 million on safety and security next year with roughly 70% funded locally and the remainder supported by grants previously described. Barnett noted the tentative total general fund figure shown in materials was $449,000,000 and that the presentation provides a month for board and public questions before the final budget vote scheduled June 11.
The meeting included several routine approvals: consent renewals for flooring and gym-floor contracts and a personnel report; those motions passed unanimously. The board also approved resolutions to request assistance from the Georgia Department of Education on a new five-year local facilities plan and to certify project closeout for Roberts Elementary. The board adjourned to executive session and returned to finish public business.
