Mooresville board approves 2026–27 budget, raises STARS monthly fee to $650 and adds $20 full‑day workday charge

The Mooresville Graded School District board voted March 3 to approve the proposed 2026–27 local current expense and capital outlay budgets after a presentation from district finance staff.

District staff described key assumptions used in the draft budget, including a 4% assumed salary increase, a retirement contribution assumption of 25.5% (current 24.67%), and an $8,650 per‑employee health‑insurance matching assumption. The presentation also showed no new positions in the local budget and an approximate fund balance of $1.4 million; staff said the budget is conservative in its revenue estimates and modest in its expense projections.

The board also approved changes to before‑and‑after school care (BASP) and the STARS program: a $20 fee for full‑day care during teacher workdays and an increase in the STARS monthly rate from $575 to $650, effective July 1 for the 2026–27 school year. District presenters explained the change is intended to help the program remain self‑sustaining amid rising costs and higher employee benefits and matching expenses.

Board members moved and seconded the budget and rate measures; the motions were carried by voice vote (the transcript records verbal "Aye" votes but does not contain a roll‑call tally). The board also approved a package of board policy updates on second read and later approved budget amendments and a personnel list during the same meeting.

The budget presentation and related votes direct staff to finalize the local current expense and capital outlay budgets for the 2026–27 fiscal year; any material changes tied to state budget actions (retirement rates and state funding levels) would depend on pending General Assembly decisions and could prompt future amendments.