Cherokee County board tables FY27 budget first reading after discussion of new positions and reserves

The Cherokee County School Board received the first reading of the fiscal year 2027 general fund budget and then voted to table final action until after executive session.

During the presentation, the district's budget presenter, Mister Pettit, told trustees the administration recommends scenario 1 but outlined three options: “Scenario 1… 3% salary raise across the board for all employees,” and two alternatives that vary increases for principals, assistant principals, directors or above. Pettit said projected revenue for FY27 is $105,442,569 and explained recent adjustments to the package — notably a $1.2 million substitute teacher line and corrections to fringe encumbrances — that changed the recent deficit estimate.

Board discussion focused on whether to add three requested district positions (a compliance coordinator, a director of community and employee relations, and a director of finance) and on the district's plan to use parts of its fund balance this year. A board member moved to table the budget so the board could meet in executive session “to discuss future jobs, positions, and employees,” and the motion carried unanimously.

Next steps: the board deferred the final budget vote until after the personnel discussion in executive session; administrators said they will return with whatever decisions the board directs and that a salary-study consultant is already being engaged to provide additional data before final action.