At a recent meeting held Tuesday, the Moore County Schools Board of Education discussed several budget-related items, with a focus on the interim superintendent’s proposed operating budget for fiscal year 2026–27 and adjustments to the current fiscal year budget.
“The proposed budget is [a] reflection of the school district’s most critical needs and its priorities as expressed in its vision, mission, core beliefs, and strategic goals,” reads the budget’s official executive summary. “The proposed FY 26-27 budget weighs those needs and priorities of the district against the reality of fixed cost increases to maintain current operations without denigrating services to our students, staff and community. The majority of the fixed costs include the local obligation to match anticipated state raises and benefits rate increases.”
Proposed 2026–27 School Budget
The discussion was led by Jennifer Purvis, interim superintendent, and Tina Edmonds, assistant superintendent for budget and finance.
Purvis and Edmonds provided a revised proposed operating budget for the 2026–27 fiscal year and explained the priorities guiding how funding would be allocated. The budget is designed to maintain existing services for students while supporting board priorities such as literacy, workforce readiness, transportation, recruitment, and retention of staff, facilities, and community engagement.
Purvis described the proposal as using a “conservative budget approach,” meaning the district focuses on estimating revenues carefully, accounting for fixed-cost increases, and identifying efficiencies where possible.
Purvis and finance staff reported that fixed‑cost increases are expected to total $1.61 million next year. Based on guidance from the county commissioners’ March 10 work session, the district anticipates $1.77 million in additional county revenue, leaving an estimated $157,377 surplus.
The district projects using $1.69 million in fund balance—equal to 2% of state‑mandated salary increases—to support the local budget. Finance staff said Moore County Schools is expected to end the 2024‑25 fiscal year with $4.65 million in unassigned fund balance. After next year’s planned appropriation, the unassigned balance is projected to be $3.13 million going into 2026‑27.
The interim superintendent’s preliminary 2026‑27 budget proposal totals $167.7 million across all funds. That includes $102.4 million in state funding, $43.6 million in local funding, $11.1 million in federal funding, $1 million for capital, $6.38 million for school nutrition, and $3.24 million in restricted revenues. Capital, nutrition, and restricted funds do not yet include any carryover amounts.
Purvis noted that nearly 80% of the district’s state funding supports personnel.
The proposed local budget includes $37.07 million for district operations and $4.2 million for charter school pass‑through funding. The county’s projected contribution to Fund 2 totals $41.27 million, with an additional $800,000 for capital and $50,000 routed through Fund 8 from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
Purvis said the budget ultimately aims to preserve current operations, support staff, and maintain a conservative financial posture while the district continues to navigate rising costs and uncertainty at the state level.
Public feedback on the proposed budget indicated the need for higher staff compensation and improved academic resources, which the board said would be considered as priorities moving forward. Board members also discussed the potential impact of state salary increases, noting that the district’s proposal assumed about a 2% pay increase, while the state legislature had discussed higher increases.
Later in the meeting, the board voted to approve a resolution urging the North Carolina General Assembly to pass the state budget, citing the need for timely funding for public schools and employee salaries.
Abegail Murphy | Assistant Editor
Written by Sandhills Sentinel assistant editor Abegail Murphy. Abegail has been writing for Sandhills Sentinel since 2021.
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