Greenville County Schools board approves FY27 general fund budget, boosts pay and shifts CTE funding

Dr. Styles announced the board approved the recommended FY27 general fund budget after a second reading and a brief question period.

The board approved the administration’s recommended FY27 general fund budget on a voice vote after Dr. Royster reviewed district performance and staff outlined revenue and expenditure changes. Mr. Sailors moved to approve the budget; Miss Linda Leventus Wells seconded. Chair Dr. Styles announced, “The motion carries. The budget is passed.”

The budget raises the teacher salary schedule by $2,700 per step and raises non-teacher salary schedules by 3.75%, moves career-and-technical education (CTE) revenues and corresponding expenditures ($7,927,000) into a restricted special revenue fund per the state’s new funding methodology, and includes targeted staff additions for special education and behavioral health supports.

In presenting the measure, Dr. Royster framed the budget around recent district gains and workforce competitiveness. “If you look at where we currently rank, we rank number seven among all school districts in South Carolina,” he said, and added that “last year’s senior class, class of ’25, earned $169 million in scholarship offers.” He also cited a historic graduation rate of 90.6% in 2025 and substantial subgroup gains since 2012.

On revenue, the administration revised the FY27 property-tax revenue projection to $328,584,000 (reflecting a 3% increase in projected mill value compared with the first reading). State aid projections were adjusted after updated weighted-pupil-unit counts, and bus-driver reimbursement projections rose, producing a revised revenue picture presented at second reading.

Administrators told the board that the state separated CTE funding into a dedicated appropriation that must be recorded in a special revenue fund; as a result the district will transfer roughly $7.9 million in CTE expenditures out of the general fund to the special revenue fund. Administration characterized that change as an accounting move with no reduction in services or CTE staffing.

On expenditures, Miss Thomas described several changes driven by the salary adjustments: the teacher schedule increase to $2,700 per step, non-teacher schedules moved to 3.75% or their step (whichever is higher), an increase to principal competitiveness that adds $2,000 to steps beyond step one, and an added $50,000 for existing service contracts to reflect updated fuel-cost projections (increasing that line to $723,000). The board was also told the administration removed an expanded paid parental-leave proposal after the state House reduced the proposed expansion from 12 to six weeks and clarified language; no additional district funding was included for parental leave at this time.

Board members sought clarifications before the vote. Miss Linda Leventus Wells confirmed there would be no millage increase and that the minimum raise in the package is 3.75%. Miss Goodwin Cowwell asked how many CTE FTEs were associated with the $7.9 million transfer; administration said it covers approximately 80 CTE positions. Miss Mosley thanked staff for the emphasis on special education and asked for a future update on whether the changes accelerate timelines for behavior plans and improve hiring outcomes.

Administration emphasized a number of staffing additions aimed at special education and behavioral health, including behavior specialists, special education specialists, psychologists, occupational therapists and the replacement of about 15 mental-health counselors previously funded by a grant. The budget also includes a targeted 6% pay raise for special-education aides and a 6% increase for substitute teachers in positions tied to special education.

The board approved the budget by voice vote; the transcript records a chair announcement that the motion carried but no roll-call tally was included in the record. After brief applause the board moved to adjourn; it adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

The administration said the proposed debt-service millage reduction (from 48.5 to 47.5) will appear in the debt-service budget published on June 9. Administration also highlighted the longer-term impact of tax abatements and Act 388 reimbursements on district revenue in the presentation.