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Cherokee County school board hears proposal for teacher pay increases, flags revenue uncertainty
Summary
Finance staff told the Cherokee County School Board at a public hearing that the general fund draft for 2026–27 would raise the salary budget by about $1.5 million, driven by teacher step increases and a 3% schedule adjustment, while revenue projections remain uncertain pending property reassessment and investment returns.
The Cherokee County School Board of Trustees held a public hearing on the district's 2026–27 general fund budget, during which finance staff detailed a proposed $1.5 million increase to the salary budget and discussed revenue uncertainties tied to property reassessment and investment income. Mr. Pettit, the district's finance director, presented slides and took questions from board members and attendees.
Mr. Pettit said the bulk of the $1.5 million increase from 2025–26 to 2026–27 ‘‘is step increases for teachers and a 3% adjustment to the entire salary schedule,’’ adding that combined step and schedule changes can equate to ‘‘about four to 5% increase at the teacher level’’ depending on an individual teacher's step. A board member asked whether the 3% would be added to any state-approved percentage; Mr. Pettit replied that the district's adjustment is ‘‘based on state mandates’’ and is intended to cover or exceed the state's minimum requirement.
Staff also described personnel items embedded in the proposal. Mr. Pettit said that at first read the finance director and the community engagement director had been removed from the list, and the slides reflected the remaining positions the board is being asked to approve as part of the budget.
On the revenue side, Mr. Pettit explained that the district uses trend-based forecasts for projected assessed value until the county completes its official reassessment. ‘‘Because it's a new reassessment, we do a brand new formula to project value,’’ he said, noting the district will have clearer revenue figures in the fall when the assessor's values are finalized. He added that unusually high enrollment could increase revenue above state estimates and that ‘‘other local income’’ (investment earnings, facility leasing and similar receipts) is expected to rise under a revised investment strategy for excess cash. The transcript records prior-year projection figures and actuals but does not specify units; staff characterized the differences as reasons to be conservative in forecasting.
Dr. Fitzpatrick was present alongside Mr. Pettit to answer questions, but the transcript records no formal vote on the budget at this session. The board invited public questions through the hearing window and adjourned after concluding the hearing.
Next steps: the district will update revenue projections once the county's reassessment is complete and return with budget documents reflecting any changes; no final adoption of the 2026–27 general fund budget was recorded in this hearing.
