Board reviews tentative 2026–27 budget and discusses millage, advertising timeline

At a July 20 school board workshop, Mr. Copeland presented the district's one‑page tentative budget and walked the board through the advertising schedule and key revenue assumptions.

Copeland told the board the one‑page document and the capital outlay advertisement must run in the July 29 local paper and that a notice of proposed tax increase is being prepared "to work off of the budgeted numbers." He said the tentative budget incorporates the second FEFP calculation released the prior Friday and that subsequent calculations could change the estimate.

He identified the millage components on the tentative summary: required local effort of 3.168%, a discretionary operating rate of 0.7480 and a local capital outlay of 1.5 mills, which together produced a "total millage for the 2026–27 year of 5.416," as Copeland presented it. When a board member asked for the proposed tax increase amount, a figure of "$26.27" and "7.06%" was read from the materials during the meeting.

Copeland said projected state sources in the packet reflect the second FEFP count; the transcript records a state revenue figure in the presentation but the printed/audio rendering of that number was unclear. He emphasized that revenues are budgeted lower than the prior year to reflect declining FTE and increased family empowerment scholarships, and that about 23% of the district's FTE goes to charter schools under current counts.

Board members pressed on the operational implications of lower enrollment. "We are entering this 26,27 year with a great savings account," Copeland said, but he warned the district would draw down reserves "unless we can continue to make some moves." He suggested options such as tighter PO vetting, using grant funds appropriately and reallocating local capital improvement funds to cover certain operating costs (for example, bus driver salaries).

Several board members urged the district to prioritize student recruitment and retention, highlighting vocational and career programs at Madison County High School (culinary, nursing, agricultural, business, and dual enrollment) as assets that could be emphasized to reverse enrollment declines.

Copeland said staff will update budgeted revenues as FEFP counts change and will present a final budget hearing that meets TRIM requirements at the board meeting scheduled for Sept. 7. The workshop transcript shows discussion of authorizing staff to advertise the tentative budget for public notice but does not record a formal vote in this workshop to advertise the budget.