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Anderson School Board approves $33.5 million 2026–27 general fund budget; no millage increase requested
Summary
The Anderson School Board approved a proposed 2026–27 general fund budget of $33,495,000 (a 4.05% increase). Trustees held a public hearing, heard staff explain revenue assumptions — including an assessment change for boats and projected enrollment — and approved pay increases for teachers and support staff without requesting a millage increase.
The Anderson School Board voted to adopt a proposed $33,495,000 general fund budget for fiscal year 2026–27 after a brief public hearing and board discussion.
Matthew, who presented the budget to trustees, said the proposal represents a 4.05% increase over the current year and does not include a millage increase. "We do not have a millage increase requested in this budget," he said. He explained the board could pursue up to the statutory cap but the district is not seeking that additional revenue.
Staff described the revenue assumptions that underlie the proposed spending plan: essentially flat enrollment at about 2,601 students, the county's assessment timing and a technical change to boat assessments (described in the meeting as moving from a 10.5% assessment to a 6% assessment phased in by the county, with taxpayers receiving credits). Matthew said staff adjusted assessment totals using May assessment figures and captured the boat-assessment change in their calculations to arrive at the adopted revenue estimate.
On expenditures, staff told the board payroll remains the largest line, representing roughly 88% of the budget. The proposed pay adjustments include a $2,000 step for all employees, a $2,000 increase for teachers to set starting teacher pay at $54,000, a $2,000 increase for administrators and a move from a previously planned 2% support-staff increase to 3% (the increase to support staff accounted for the roughly $51,000 change from the first reading). Matthew said the district is budgeting conservatively on collection rates but is comfortable with the projections: "we feel comfortable using our current enrollment and feel protected in the way it's set up forward."
Board members asked about the prudence of budgeting at 95% of assessed values versus a more conservative 93.5%. Staff explained historical collection rates and timing differences—such as a manufacturer depreciation reimbursement payment that arrived in early June this year rather than May last year—affect year-to-date comparisons and collection assumptions. The board discussed fund-balance targets and staff noted the district's adopted practice to hold a fund balance equal to 25% of the following year's expenditures; under the proposed budget, staff said the district would need approximately $8,373,750 in fund balance at June 30 and expects to be able to meet that target.
After the public hearing closed, a trustee moved to adopt the budget. The motion passed on a voice vote; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally. Trustees also directed staff to review the district office support-staff salary schedule next year.
The board then moved into other business, including an update on year-to-date general fund performance and an appendix review of graduation statistics. The meeting concluded with a motion to enter executive session on personnel and contract matters.
