Agenda Item
b. Tentative Budget/Revenue Budget Projections and Tentative Tax Levy for FY2026 ~ Updated 5.9.2025
Summary: Presented by: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the FY26 Tentative Budget for all funds, the resolution to certify the estimated roll back rate for calendar year 2025, and another resolution to approve the Tentative Tax Levy for calendar year 2025 which funds the District's FY26 Tentative Budget.
Details: The FY26 Tentative Budget All Funds includes estimated revenues and expenditures for all governmental funds including the preliminary operating general fund budget, capital outlay, school nutrition and non-major funds.
The tentative budget for the general fund accounts for local revenues based on an assessed millage rate of 22.78. This represents a tenth of a mill reduction from the 2024 millage rate funding FY25, the current fiscal year. The total general fund budget includes revenues of $1,619,511,295, expenditures of 1,635,130,946, transfers out to support other non-major funds of $8,100,000 and the includes a planned spend down of the general fund's fund balance of $23,619,651.
The tentative budget for capital projects includes estimated annual revenues of $173,475,000, expenditures of $270,555,684, no transfers in at this time to support the districts generally funded capital project account, and an overall planned spend down of capital project fund balance of 97,080,684. Keep in mind that this budget is an estimated annual spend. Capital Projects (SPLOST V and VI) are multi-year funds, and the overall budgets approved for each project trumps this annual projection.
The school nutrition fund includes revenues from all sources of $83,832,367, expenditures of $85,832,367, transfers in of $100,000 and an intentional fund balance spend down of $1,900,000. It is important to note that 97% of the revenues for this program come from the federal government by way of the child nutrition grant (breakfast/lunch/snack).
The final column for non-major funds includes reimbursable state programs of $27,388,174 and federal programs of $115,127,996 which are included in the total anticipated revenue of 150,946,833. Correspondingly there's $159,827,631 of planned expenses and $8M of additional support from the general fund to support ROTC, Athletics, and Bright from the Start programs. The total planned fund balance reduction is $880,798.
It is important to note that this consolidated budget for all funds for FY26 includes anticipated federal revenues $196,347,612. This supports substantial district programs such as school nutrition to a tune of $81,219,616, Title I at $55,668,135, Special Education at $36,599,502, Title II at $9,670,183, Title III at $3,708,818 and Title IV at $4,476,115. While we develop a financial plan for the district which includes anticipated revenues and expenditures for all funds, it is vitally important to note the most recent "skinny budget" for the Federal Government includes a reduction of $13.7B to USDOE, aiming to dismantle the agency and transfer its functions to other agencies. It also includes shifting both Title I and Special Education to block grants and granting states more discretion over the use. It also proposes cuts and eliminations of key programs like Title II to a tune of $2.4B.
Given the current uncertainty surrounding the educational funding landscape, as well as planned recurring expenditures of the district, we recommend a millage rate of 22.78. This is a reduction of a tenth of a mill and even though we saw a 3% increase in the value of the digest due to revaluation, the overall tax increase due to reassessment is less than the rate of inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index for all Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for 2024. Furthermore, even though the district opted out of HB-581, this recommendation would be compliant had we opted in.
By approving the tentative budget as well as the two attached resolutions, the board of education is permitting district administration with advertising the budget and millage rate and holding the required hearings to receive vital feedback from district stakeholders.
Contact: Mr. Byron Schueneman, Chief Financial Officer, Division of Finance, 678.676.0270
Status: Legal Approval Not Required
DEKALB COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
FY2026- Consolidated Budget
Governmental Funds
For the Period Ended June 30, 2026
CAPITAL PROJECTS SCHOOL NUTRITION NONMAJOR TOTAL GOVERNMENTAL
GENERAL FUND FUND DEBT SERVICE FUND FUND GOVERNMENTAL FUNDS FUNDS
REVENUES
Property Taxes $ 1,001,496,971 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 1,001,496,971
Sales Taxes 6,000,000 160,000,000 - - - 166,000,000
State Funds 590,784,324 - - 1,500,000 27,388,174 619,672,498
Federal Funds - - - 81,219,616 115,127,996 196,347,612
Charges for Services 1,000,000 - - 500,000 - 1,500,000
Investment Earnings 17,500,000 13,300,000 - - - 30,800,000
Miscellaneous 2,730,000 175,000 - 612,751 8,430,664 11,948,415
Total revenues 1,619,511,295 173,475,000 - 83,832,367 150,946,833 2,027,765,496
EXPENDITURES
Current
Instruction 884,871,875 28,326,614 - - 69,700,593 982,899,082
Pupil Services 124,417,404 - - - 29,990,345 154,407,748
Improvement of Instructional Services 44,946,378 16,720,406 - - 566,516 62,233,300
Instructional Staff Training 581,584 - - - 38,361,080 38,942,664
Educational Media Services 19,374,968 - - - 33,000 19,407,968
Federal Grant Administration - - - - 5,739,014 5,739,014
General Administration 45,379,092 - - - 1,474,795 46,853,888
School Administration 92,663,642 - - - 207,001 92,870,643
Support Services - Business 9,733,473 - - - 236,500 9,969,973
Maintenance And Operation 258,426,622 1,632,069 - - 1,703,392 261,762,083
School Safety And Security - - - 6,220,368 6,220,368
Student Transportation Service 91,918,519 3,223,228 - - 1,041,575 96,183,322
Support Services - Central 59,456,001 6,668,004 - - 248,427 66,372,433
Other Support Services 1,734,444 - - - 25,025 1,759,469
School Nutrition Program 336,368.00 - - 85,832,367 - 86,168,735
Enterprise Operations 1,290,576 - - - 4,280,000 5,570,576
Capital Outlays
Facilities Acquistion & Construction - 213,985,364 - - 213,985,364
Total expenditures 1,635,130,946 270,555,684 - 85,832,367 159,827,631 2,151,346,629
Excess (deficiency) of revenues over expenditures (15,619,651) (97,080,684) - (2,000,000) (8,880,798) (123,581,133)
OTHER FINANCING SOURCES (USES)
Operating Transfers From Other Funds - - 100,000 9,000,000 9,100,000
Operating Transfers To Other Funds (8,100,000) - - - (1,000,000) (9,100,000)
Sale or Compensation for the Loss of Capital Assets 100,000 - - - - 100,000
Total other financing sources (uses) (8,000,000) - - 100,000 8,000,000 100,000
Net change in fund balances (23,619,651) (97,080,684) - (1,900,000) (880,798) (123,481,133)
Fund balances - beginning $ 392,000,000 $ 520,000,000 $ - $ 25,000,000 $ 2,520,894 $ 939,520,894
Fund balances - ending $ 368,380,349 $ 422,919,316 $ - $ 23,100,000 $ 1,640,096 $ 816,039,761