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Lincoln County school board reviews FY27 tentative budget, discusses buses, staff costs and SPLS contingency
Summary
The Lincoln County School Board heard a detailed presentation on the FY27 tentative budget, including a projected $5 million starting balance, nearly $800,000 in QBE increases, higher insurance and TRS costs, a proposed handicap-accessible bus, and a $500,000 SPLS contingency; the board moved to approve the tentative budget and set a final hearing for June 9.
Presenter (S1) reviewed the Lincoln County School Board's FY27 tentative budget, saying the district expects to start the year with roughly $5 million and could end FY27 with more than $5 million if projections hold. "We'll be roughly around 5 million to start the year and we should be over 5 million to end FY27 if all goes to plan," S1 said.
S1 walked the board through changes from the FY26 amended budget to the FY27 tentative budget, noting the removal of one-time items (land and a sign) and the early debt payoff that together produced about a $1 million net variance. S1 said the district cleaned up grant accounts and that recent grant adjustments are federal funds. On QBE funding, S1 said the district's QBE went up nearly $800,000, about half of which S1 attributed to equalization adjustments and coding for students with special needs.
Why it matters: the budget frames staffing, transportation and capital decisions for the coming year. S1 emphasized personnel and benefit pressures, citing teacher step/experience costs (an estimated $42,000—$43,000 impact) and an insurance increase of about $50 per employee per month; S1 said roughly 170 employees are currently enrolled in insurance. S1 also said TRS employer costs rose 41 percent.
Transportation and capital needs were highlighted. S1 said the district had budgeted two buses in FY26 but is now being asked for one handicap-accessible bus priced at about $190,000; the state reimbursement is roughly $88,000, leaving an estimated $100,000—$110,000 local share. On capital timing, S1 said the district plans to move $500,000 from SPLS into capital-project planning as a contingency but cautioned those state SPLS funds cannot be used until state timing permits (likely November, possibly February).
S1 listed facilities priorities raised by the maintenance director: multiple small HVAC replacements at the high school (about $15,000 each) and a temporary elementary-school roof/ceiling repair to extend the building's service life until replacement is possible. S1 also reported staffing turnover (five or six teacher retirements plus paraprofessionals, nurses and bus-driver changes) and small curriculum-cost adjustments partially covered by grants.
Board business and next steps: after the presentation the chair requested a motion to approve the tentative FY27 budget. A motion was made and seconded (movers spoken in the record), and the board confirmed a public hearing and final approval date of June 9 (public hearing at 4:30 p.m.; final approval at 5:00 p.m.). The transcript does not record a formal roll-call tally or explicit recorded outcome in the meeting minutes; the board did schedule the June 9 final action.
The board also discussed supplements, teacher starting pay competitiveness and athletics staffing before moving on to other agenda items. The tentative budget materials were requested in print for board members.
The board adjourned the budget portion of the meeting and moved on to the next agenda item.
