News Summary
The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees has approved a $962.9 million budget for fiscal year 2026 to enhance education in the region.
Greenville, South Carolina – The Greenville County Schools (GCS) Board of Trustees has unanimously approved a budget amounting to $962.9 million for fiscal year 2026, marking a significant commitment to education in the region. The budget was finalized following a public hearing on June 2 and will take effect on July 1.
One of the key highlights of this budget is that there will be no increase in the millage rate; in fact, the overall millage may actually be reduced due to a county-wide reassessment of property values. Additionally, concerns regarding the State Aid to Classrooms Program funding and local fee-in-lieu-of-tax (FILOT) revenue were effectively addressed prior to finalizing the budget. The Greenville County has assured the school district that FILOT payments will remain unchanged in the upcoming fiscal year, thereby providing financial stability.
Superintendent Burke Royster emphasized that the budget is designed to attract and retain top talent for the school district while prioritizing the support of students and maintaining fiscal responsibility. Specifically, teachers will see a salary increase of $1,300, increasing the starting salary for first-year educators to $51,841. Approximately $9.59 million of the budget is allocated for this salary increment, which reflects the district’s commitment to investing in its educators.
In addition to the direct salary increase for teachers, all eligible employees will receive either a 2.4% salary increase or a step increase, whichever is greater, with a notable adjustment to the salary scale. A 37th step has been added to the teacher salary schedule to account for additional years of experience and education levels. Moreover, $6.8 million has been designated to fund salary step increases for teachers, further enhancing their compensation packages.
The budget also allocates funding to enhance special education services, with approximately $965,000 earmarked for hiring 10 new special education teachers and 2 additional behavior specialists. There have been adjustments made to the salary scale for special education aides, including an increase in the minimum hourly wage to $18 and a reduction in the number of salary steps. In recognition of their critical role, special education aides will also receive three dedicated professional development days.
Overall, the approved budget reflects an increase of around $40 million compared to last year’s budget, reflecting growing needs and priorities within the school district. However, some community members have voiced concerns about potential budget waste and the necessity for an in-depth review of expenditures. In response, Board Chair Carolyn Styles defended the budget, affirming that the district is committed to prudent spending and asserting that staffing levels in high schools meet the demands of the large student populations.
The support for this budget was further strengthened by the county council’s assurance of no cuts to school funding. This assurance is particularly significant as the Greenville County Council is scheduled to meet soon to discuss potential changes to their budget, which may impact the school district’s overall funding and financial landscape for the year ahead.
As the new fiscal year approaches, the successful approval of this substantial budget marks a pivotal point in enhancing educational opportunities and resources for students and educators alike in Greenville County.
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Additional Resources
- WYFF4: Greenville County Schools Budget Funding
- Wikipedia: Greenville, South Carolina
- Greenville Journal: GCS Adopts $962M Budget
- Google Search: Greenville County Schools budget
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Schools Approves Budget
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- Greenville Online: School Funding Concerns
- Google News: Greenville County Schools
