GCS Board Approves FY 26 General Fund Budget
Board Presentation Board Packet
The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees unanimously approved the proposed FY 26 General Fund Budget following a public hearing and the budget’s second and final reading Monday night.
The FY 26 budget is balanced, as required by policy, and reflects revenue and expenditures totaling $962,992,000. For the fourth time in 11 years, there is no millage increase. Since this is a reassessment year, the total millage will be reduced in accord with the provisions of statutes governing reassessment.
The budget is based on favorable developments in the State’s FY 2025-2026 budget and includes updates to State Aid to Classrooms, employee insurance, and retiree insurance. The projected revenue also reflects the assurance provided this fiscal year by Greenville County not to remove existing FILOT revenue from that previously committed to the District.
A major focus of the budget is to increase salaries for teachers and employees to address inflation and remain competitive in recruiting and retaining the best personnel in all positions. The budget includes a $1,300 addition to every cell on the GCS teacher salary schedule. All other eligible employees will receive a step. If the step is not valued at a minimum of 2.4%, it will be adjusted to equal a 2.4% increase. Employees not eligible for a step will receive a 2.4% increase.
In South Carolina, school funding is set up to be a shared responsibility between the State and local taxpayers. However, under the current State law Act 388, taxes for school districts’ general funds are collected on property such as cars, boats, second homes, rental property, and businesses. Local taxes are not collected on owner-occupied homes (primary residences) to support Greenville County Schools’ General Fund Budget, and taxpayers can see this reflected as the “School Tax Credit Savings” line on their tax bill. This results in the value of the operating mill being only 63% of the value of a mill if it included owner-occupied homes.
“We know the greatest influence on student success is the quality of the teacher in the classroom,” said Dr. W. Burke Royster, Superintendent of Greenville County Schools. “This budget prioritizes ensuring that we continue to attract top talent and support students, while operating with fiscal discipline and responsibility.”
Expenditures – Notable new expenditures in the budget include:
- $1,300 Increase to Every Cell on the GCS Teacher Salary Schedule
- A Step Increase for All Teachers
- A Step or Minimum 2.4% Increase for All Eligible Non-teaching Employees
- Funding for Student Growth
- Opening of Reedy Laurel Elementary School (36.75 FTE)
- Special Education Teachers (10.0 FTE)
- Special Education Aide Salary Scale Adjustment and Additional Days
- Behavior Specialists (2.0 FTE)
- Bus Driver Compensation for Years of Experience
- Mental Health Counselors (48.0 FTE)
- Custodians for Increased Square Footage (6.5 FTE)
- Bus GPS Management Tool Subscription
- Utility Cost Increase
- District Property/Liability Insurance Premiums
- Cost Increases for Existing Service/Supply Contracts
A complete list of new expenditures is available below:
Expenditures Due to State Mandates: The items shown below are mandated through legislation.
|
Teacher Salary Step |
$6,802,000 |
|
Teacher Certificate Upgrades |
1,321,000 |
|
State Health Employer Contribution Rate Increase of 11.8% (July – December 2025) |
3,396,000 |
|
State Health Employer Contribution Rate Increase of 4.6% (January – June 2026) |
2,122,000 |
|
Total |
$13,641,000 |
Additional Expenditures: The following items reflect priorities needed to meet local requirements of the Education Plan for FY 26.
|
Increases Associated with Student Growth |
$1,088,000 |
|
Reedy Laurel Elementary School (36.75 FTE) |
2,919,000 |
|
Special Education Teachers (10.0 FTE) |
965,000 |
|
Secondary MLP Curriculum Consumables |
83,000 |
|
Teacher Salary Schedule Increase of $1,300 |
9,598,000 |
|
Add Step 37 to Teacher Salary Schedule |
190,000 |
|
Adjust Special Education Aide Salary Scale |
506,000 |
|
Special Education Aides Additional Days (3 days) |
289,000 |
|
Behavior Specialists (2.0 FTE) |
266,000 |
|
International Teacher Fees |
207,000 |
|
Peer Evaluator Stipend |
160,000 |
|
Non-Teacher Salary Schedules Step Movement - Minimum 2.4% |
6,675,000 |
|
Bus Driver Compensation for Years of Experience |
85,000 |
|
Mental Health Counselors (48.0 FTE) |
1,484,000 |
|
Custodians for Increased Square Footage (6.5 FTE) |
340,000 |
|
Bus GPS Management Tool Subscription |
114,000 |
|
Utility Cost Increase |
237,000 |
|
District Property/Liability Insurance Premiums |
965,000 |
|
Cost Increases for Existing Service/Supplies |
924,000 |
|
Total |
$27,095,000 |
Total Proposed Budget: $962,992,000
