The Gilmer County School System’s fiscal year 2026 budget of $58.5 million was unanimously approved for advertisement.
It is required by the Georgia Statue and State Broad of Education that the annual budget for the next fiscal year must be prepared by the superintendent of schools and presented to the Gilmer County Board of Education for consideration and adoption prior to the end of the current fiscal year.
Budget preparation got underway last fall as administrative teams reviewed the needs and changes to initiatives. Superintendent Dr. Brian Ridley and chief financial officer Page Reynolds met with principals and department heads at this time, and those discussions continued through February.
The system held its initial public budget meeting March 21 as part of the annual board retreat. The tentative budget was unanimously approved for advertisement at the board of education’s June 19 called meeting.
The FY ’26 budget allocates just over $54.2 million in local, state and federal funds to support the operation and mission of the district. This includes projected state revenues of approximately $25 million, local revenues of approximately $26.9 million and federal grants totaling around $7.3 million.
The system’s top expenses include instruction ($37.2 million), maintenance and operations ($5.4 million), school administration ($3.6 million), transportation ($3 million) and pupil services ($2.3 million).
With estimated total expenditures of $58.5 million and estimated total revenues at $54.2 million, the system will experience an excess of expenditures over revenues of $4.2 million. The estimated July 1 beginning general fund balance of $26.2 million has been estimated to decrease to $22 million by the end of the period June 30, 2026.
Ridley will ask for final approval and adoption of the FY ’26 budget at the board of education’s next regular meeting, Thursday, July 24.