Lakeland School Board approves $37.8 million FY 2026–27 budget after adding city’s 15¢ property-tax equivalent

The Lakeland School System board approved its FY 2026–27 budget at a special-called meeting after amending the draft to reflect the city of Lakeland’s 15¢ property-tax-equivalent payment of $1,053,180.

The amendment, which reduced line item 14149800 to $1,053,180 and reallocated $46,820 into another line (44170), was adopted by voice vote after the board heard legal counsel’s opinion that the district is entitled to include the 15¢ equivalent each year.

Why it matters: the adopted all-funds budget is roughly $37.8 million, about $1.1 million (3.25%) higher than the prior year’s budget. The board said the plan is structurally balanced, does not rely on using fund balance, and emphasizes personnel costs — which account for roughly 67% of spending — along with a $1,000 certified bonus, a $750 classified bonus, a 2% cost-of-living increase and modest targeted staffing changes.

Legal basis and counsel’s view

Catherine Kimmel, legal counsel with the law firm Lewis Thomason, told the board she reviewed state statute, State Board of Education rules and the referendum language voters approved when Lakeland created the municipal school district in 2013. "Based on my reading of the law, the regs, [and] this ordinance...the school system is entitled to that 15¢ tax levy on the taxable property," Kimmel said, recommending the board include the equivalent amount in its annual budget proposal.

Kimmel referenced the statute that authorizes municipal school systems and the requirement cited in the enabling materials that the city pledge a local funding amount "at least equal to the amount that would be raised through a 15¢ tax levy on each $100 of taxable property." She said the Lakeland referendum was approved overwhelmingly in 2013 and the district has received the 15¢ equivalent each year since.

Budget highlights and priorities

Board and staff described the budget as the district’s second full K–12 budget following the system’s establishment and said it reflects anticipated enrollment of about 2,660 students. Funding sources cited include state TISA allocations (roughly $18.5 million), a local contribution from Shelby County, federal grants and internal revenues; nutrition programs and capital funds are included in the all-funds total.

The board emphasized sustaining classroom staffing and support: the budget preserves hard-to-staff stipends, funds device upgrades, increases ACT-prep and professional development funding, enhances substitute pay and creates formula-driven annual grants for fine arts, CTE and science labs. Planned staffing changes include adding an assistant principal at the middle preparatory school, one teacher at LNPS, cutting one LES teacher through attrition, and adding a second district psychologist.

Votes and procedure

Board members moved and seconded the amendment to match the city’s 15¢ equivalent and then approved the amended budget by voice vote. The meeting record notes that two members participated remotely and were not voting for this special call; the roll-call and voice votes recorded "aye" and the chair declared the motions passed. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally in numbers.

What comes next

The board said the budget as approved will move to the city’s Board of Commissioners for consideration in its budget process. Officials also approved salary and stipend schedules reflecting the 2% increase proposed in the budget and seven job-description updates.

The meeting adjourned after the votes.