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Forsyth County presenters outline $761.5 million FY27 school budget, postpone millage hearings
Summary
District presenters proposed a $761.5 million FY27 budget — a 1.47% increase — saying preliminary tax-digest data are not yet available and postponing scheduled millage hearings; the plan includes pay-step increases, investments in nurses and SROs, and a local shortfall for state-mandated literacy coaches.
Dr. Mitch Young and Larry Hamill presented a proposed $761.5 million operating budget for fiscal year 2027 at a special meeting on May 26, saying the plan represents a 1.47% increase over the prior year and, on current projections, does not require a mill-rate increase.
"The overall summary for this year's budget is that we are proposing a budget of $761.5 million in total," Dr. Mitch Young said during the presentation, framing the proposal around maintaining a 15% fund balance while supporting student safety and instruction.
The presenters told the board they do not yet have final tax-digest or millage figures from county officials. Larry Hamill said the district modeled revenue assuming a roughly 4% increase in the digest and a 99.5% collection rate for planning purposes, but that the official digest may arrive after mid-to-late June, so the district is postponing the public millage hearings previously scheduled for June.
That uncertainty informed much of the proposal's structure. District leaders said the locally controlled portion of the budget increases by 0.66%, which they said would allow the district to preserve a fund balance target above 15% while addressing several priorities. The budget includes a salary-step increase for eligible staff intended to improve retention, and funds for school nurses, a mobile panic-alert system and increased school resource officer support negotiated with the sheriff's department.
Hamill described the mix of revenue supporting the budget, saying local revenue provides the largest share (about 53.7%), with state (QBE) and federal funds providing the remainder (about 46.3%). He said the district expects roughly $14 million more in QBE-related state funding under the model used for FY27.
Presenters also flagged state-mandated costs. Dr. Young said recent legislation requires literacy coaches and that the total cost for those positions is approximately $2.9 million; the state contribution is about $1.3 million, leaving an estimated local shortfall of roughly $1.6 million.
The board heard additional detail on special funds: the district began the year with about $171 million in fund balance, presenters said, and they expect to spend roughly $27.8 million of reserves this year — mainly for capital/SPLOST projects and one-time items — leaving a projected year-end balance near $143 million and an estimated 15.36% fund balance going into FY27.
Hamill warned of pressure in some enterprise areas: the debt-service fund shows projected expenditures above revenue for the year, and the school-nutrition program faces a projected deficit (a $4.7 million shortfall was cited) that may require revenue adjustments or pricing changes.
On capital planning, presenters discussed the transition between SPLOST collections cycles and estimated roughly $82 million in capital-project funds available in the coming cycle, noting material and labor costs will accelerate spending. They emphasized that final project sequencing depends on October enrollment counts and official SPLOST collections.
Board members and presenters agreed to post the full presentation online. The meeting record shows the board amended the agenda at the start to remove an executive-session item and later voted to adjourn after the presentation.
