Washington County board hears FY27 budget draft showing roughly $6.8 million gap as district moves to meet $50,000 teacher-entry salary

The Washington County Board of Education reviewed a draft FY27 budget that projects roughly $96.41 million in revenues and $103.24 million in planned expenditures, leaving an estimated shortfall of about $6.8 million, Superintendent (S8) told the board.

Superintendent (S8) said the draft focuses on four strategic priorities and emphasized a state-mandated minimum entry salary for teachers. "We are trying to get to the minimum entry salary of $50,000," S8 said, and explained the district built a $2,095 flat-rate increase into the plan to meet the state schedule; the superintendent said that step would "equate[] to $36,000,000" in increased salary cost across the district.

Why it matters: the budget balancing choices will affect district employees, class-size initiatives and the fund balance the board maintains for operating stability. S8 told the board the plan assumes a 5% increase in health-insurance costs, higher retirement contributions and other fixed-cost pressures.

Revenue and fund-balance details included in the presentation: state TISA funding was listed at $51,441,981, local-option sales tax revenue was presented as trending above $22,000,000 (the district is asking the county to budget an additional $1 million), and estimated property-tax revenue was given as about $13,000,552.07. The superintendent summarized projected total revenue of $96,410,046 and planned expenditures of $103,235,223, generating the approximate $6.8 million gap.

Board members pressed on timing and options. One member asked whether the shortfall could be addressed before the May 1 deadline to submit an approved budget to the county mayor; another asked for more refined scenarios about supplement increases and noncertified staff raises. The superintendent said the district plans community engagement including targeted school meetings and a one-question community survey to collect input as the budget is finalized.

The superintendent also described the district's fund-balance policy and the effect of the annual revenue cycle: "Our fund balance reaches its highest point in March or April," S8 said, and noted that June is historically the district's heaviest payroll month because of 10-month contracts for certified staff.

Next steps: the board was told it can take formal action at its scheduled workshop or a special called meeting before the May 1 submission deadline. The administration said it will return with additional scenarios and refined numbers at upcoming workshops and the joint meeting with the county commission.