Williamsburg County board hears first reading of 2026–27 budget, weighing millage and use of fund balance

Mr. Street, the district’s chief financial officer, presented the first reading of the 2026–2027 budget and warned that key revenue figures remain uncertain: “we still only have House Ways and Means version one of the revenue projections,” he said, noting that Senate and conference committee numbers and State Department guidance have not arrived.

Street said the district expects roughly $1.9 million in recurring savings from planned position reductions and attrition and listed roughly $1.4 million in mandated expenditure increases, including a $2,000 raise to the state minimum teacher salary schedule and a 2% increase for bus-driver pay. “The value of a mill for Williamsburg County is roughly $51,000,” he added while explaining the district’s calculation of available millage and the options before the board.

Under the first option — no millage increase — the district’s operating budget would still show an operational shortfall and require a larger draw from fund balance (Street projected a use of roughly $3.8 million of fund balance under the no-millage scenario, including a one-time employee retention bonus). Under the second option, using available millage revenue (Street said the combined available amount could total about 15.2 mills across recent years) would reduce but not eliminate the need to use fund balance; Street estimated a somewhat smaller net use of fund balance (around $3.1 million under the full-millage scenario).

Board members pressed staff on risks and next steps. Mr. Graham asked about enrollment loss to neighboring districts and the revenue implications; Reverend Darby urged a coordinated recruitment campaign to bring students back. Board members also asked for greater detail on Medicaid-coded positions that may need to be budgeted in the general fund if reimbursement falls short; the CFO said shifting those positions into the general fund is a conservative budgeting approach where the district can later move funds back if billing revenue materializes.

Street reviewed fund-balance history back to FY20, noting the FY25 audited fund balance was about $12 million (roughly 28.5% of the general fund) and that projected FY26 fund balance was about $8.5 million (roughly 20.2%), before the proposed uses. He warned that dropping below an 8% fund-balance threshold would trigger fiscal watch under statute, a point the board discussed during questions.

The presentation was a first reading intended to provide the board with options; Street emphasized the numbers may shift when final state revenue figures and updated guidance arrive before second reading. The board did not vote on the budget at this meeting. The CFO said staff would return with more detailed figures and that final action would follow the district’s formal budget schedule.