News Summary
The Greenville County School Board has approved a $963 million budget for fiscal year 2026, including significant allocations for teacher raises and staff support.
Greenville, South Carolina – The Greenville County School Board of Trustees has approved a budget of $963 million for the fiscal year 2026, which includes a significant allocation of just over $16 million designated for teacher raises. The budget received unanimous support and was passed during the board’s meeting on June 2, 2023.
The approved budget places a strong emphasis on retaining quality educators amid ongoing recruitment and retention challenges in South Carolina. A large portion of the budget, amounting to approximately $16.6 million, is allocated for state-required salary step increases and additional district pay increases for teachers. This initiative is part of a broader effort to ensure competitive pay for teachers in the district.
Of the funds allocated for teacher salaries, $6.8 million specifically targets teacher salary step increases, reflecting the state’s salary step schedule that rewards educators based on their level of education and years of experience. Additionally, $190,000 has been budgeted to establish a new salary step aimed at increasing minimum salaries for teachers with 37 or more years of experience. Alongside these step increases, teachers will also benefit from an additional $1,300 raise, which will cost the district approximately $9.5 million. Overall, the average teacher raise in the district is expected to be around 3.3%, ensuring that the current average teacher salary of $71,261 is well-supported.
The budget also includes provisions for non-teacher pay raises, amounting to $6.6 million, and sets aside nearly $3 million for staffing at the new Reedy Laurel Elementary School, which is scheduled to open in August. Additionally, $924,000 is earmarked for building maintenance, and $965,000 is intended for estimated insurance premiums.
On the specialized education front, the budget proposes an increase in starting hourly pay for special education aides from $16.31 to $18, costing an additional $506,000. Furthermore, the district plans to invest just under $1.5 million to employ 48 mental health counselors assigned to specific schools and to hire two new behavior specialists to address rising demands for support services.
Maintaining viable funding sources has been integral to the budget’s success. The proposed budget ensures the district will retain fee-in-lieu-of-taxes funding for the fiscal year 2026, which amounts to $25.5 million from the county. This financial planning is critical, especially as traditional funding for South Carolina schools typically derives from state and local taxes, which are subject to potential cuts.
Greenville County Schools’ budget for fiscal year 2026 is approximately $40 million higher than that of the previous year and does not involve an increase in the millage rate, showcasing the district’s commitment to fiscal responsibility while prioritizing the attraction and retention of top talent within the educational workforce. Superintendent Burke Royster highlighted that this budget aims to balance the need for strong financial oversight with the urgent demand for quality educational personnel.
By taking these comprehensive steps, the Greenville County School Board is working towards fostering a more stable and supportive environment for both educators and students in the district.
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Online: Teacher Raises in Greenville School District Budget
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Approves Budget
- WSPA: Greenville County Schools Approve $962M Budget
- WYFF4: Greenville County School Board Approves FY 26 General Fund Budget
- Wikipedia: Greenville, South Carolina
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools budget 2026
Author: STAFF HERE GREENVILLE
The HERE Greenville Staff Writers are a collaborative team of journalists, editors, and local contributors passionate about delivering accurate, timely information to the Greenville community. As part of the HEREcity.com Network, which powers over 100 U.S. city sites including HEREcolumbia.com, our staff draws on collective experience in South Carolina journalism to cover everything from business sales and real estate developments to dining deals and community initiatives. Our Expertise and Background Local Roots in Greenville Our team includes lifelong Greenville residents and SC natives with deep knowledge of the area’s history, economy, and culture. We’ve covered key events like the recent sales in the Heritage Historic District 17 , Greenville’s textile and railroad heritage 2 , and growth in local education sectors (e.g., Greenville Technical College programs) 27 . Collective Experience With over 50 combined years in journalism, our staff has backgrounds in print, digital media, and community reporting. We prioritize fact-based stories, drawing from sources like the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, city government records, and on-the-ground interviews. Commitment to Quality Every article is a group effort, involving research, editing, and verification to ensure reliability. We adhere to journalistic standards, citing credible sources and updating content as new details emerge.
