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Marion County board approves 1.5% salary increase as officials cite SEEK funding drop
Summary
The board approved a 1.5% across‑the‑board pay increase for 2026‑27 and heard staff say state SEEK funding forecasts and actuals fell roughly $700,000 year‑to‑year, constraining higher raises.
The Marion County Board of Education voted to approve a 1.5% across‑the‑board salary increase for the 2026‑27 school year amid discussion about declining SEEK (state school funding) projections.
Superintendent Chris Brady and finance staff framed the increase as fiscally constrained by state funding forecasts and local revenue considerations. A finance presenter cited forecast and actual SEEK numbers during discussion, saying forecasts for the coming year were about $11,728,431 compared with prior forecasts near $12.5 million and an actual figure of approximately $11,870,379 in recent projections; board speakers said the district took roughly a $700,000 hit over the prior year in SEEK funding.
"We want to do more, but we also hear headlines about other districts in fiscally challenging positions," a board speaker said, urging caution while expressing support for staff. Board members emphasized the district's intent to continue monitoring revenue and to provide additional raises if state funding improves during the year.
The board approved the salary schedule motion during the consent/finance agenda. No specific vote tally was read into the public transcript beyond the board's verbal assent at the meeting.
The discussion included contextual remarks about a past House budget amendment that would have required a 2% increase for educational staff but did not survive final passage, and about the district's changing revenue mix (higher local share now than in 2008, board speakers said). Officials said they will revisit pay decisions if additional state funds become available.
