News Summary
The Greenville County Schools board has approved a $962.9 million budget prioritizing teacher salary increases without raising local millage rates.
Greenville, SC – The Greenville County Schools (GCS) board of trustees has unanimously approved a $962.9 million budget for the fiscal year 2026, which begins on July 1, 2025. The budget prioritizes teacher salary increases while ensuring that the local millage rate remains unchanged.
Following a public hearing on June 2, the budget was confirmed amid reassurances that a recent county-wide property value reassessment is expected to lead to a reduction in total millage. This decision is essential for maintaining funding without increasing the financial burden on property owners.
Included in the budget is a $1,300 salary increase for teachers, which raises the starting salary for first-year educators to $51,841. This increase is part of a broader initiative to attract and retain talented personnel in the district. Approximately $9.59 million is specifically allocated for the teacher salary increase, alongside other benefits consisting of both 2.4% salary increases or step increases, depending on individual eligibility.
The approved budget also introduces a new 37th step to the salary scale for teachers, facilitating upward mobility based on experience and education. The budget allocates $6.8 million to fund these salary step increases for teachers, thus reinforcing the commitment to support educational staff.
In addition to focusing on teacher remuneration, the budget allocates $965,000 to hire ten new special education teachers, aiming to enhance services in this critical area. As part of an expansion to meet increasing demands, two additional behavior specialists will be appointed, and the salary scale for special education aides will be adjusted. This will raise their minimum hourly wage to $18 while also providing three dedicated professional development days.
Further financial provisions include a total of $6.6 million allocated for non-teacher pay raises and $924,000 earmarked for building maintenance across school facilities. Increased expenditures encompass an estimated $965,000 for insurance premiums as well. The district has also committed nearly $3 million in funding for staffing at the new Reedy Laurel Elementary School.
A key aspect of the budget involves mental health support, with plans to hire 48 mental health counselors at a cost of just under $1.5 million. This initiative aims to bolster the mental well-being of students, ensuring that adequate support services are available within the district.
Collaboration between district officials and local government leaders has been significant in establishing this budget. In May, they worked together to secure sufficient funding, ultimately resulting in $25.5 million allocated from the county to support the school district’s operations. This funding alleviates prior concerns regarding potential budget cuts that could have affected educational services.
The approved budget for FY 2026 exceeds last year’s budget by $40 million, reflecting a strong prioritization of educational investments despite a challenging financial landscape. GCS aims to uphold instructional quality while continuing to demonstrate fiscal responsibility within the budgetary framework.
As GCS moves forward with this comprehensive budget plan, the management remains committed to fostering an environment that nurtures both educators and students alike, ensuring that quality education remains a priority for the entire Greenville community.
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Additional Resources
- Greenville Journal: Greenville County Schools Adopts $962M Budget
- WYFF4: Greenville County Schools Budget Funding
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Approves Budget
- WSPA: Greenville Co. Schools Approve $962M Budget
- Greenville Online: Teacher Raises & Counselor Hires in Greenville School District Budget
- Wikipedia: Greenville County Schools
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools budget
- Google Scholar: Greenville County Schools budget
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Greenville County Schools
- Google News: Greenville County Schools budget
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.
