Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees unanimously approved the final reading of a $981.68 million general fund budget for fiscal year 2027.
The second and final reading of the budget was held after a public hearing on June 1. The approved budget, which will go into effect on July 1, 2026, does not include a tax increase. Superintendent Burke Royster said the FY27 budget prioritizes attracting and retaining quality teachers and employees.
“We are dependent on our employees throughout the organization,” Royster said. “It requires people putting forth tremendous effort, performing quality work to ensure our students have the opportunities they need to have and we believe that’s why its most fitting that we fully recognize that and reward them appropriately within our ability to do so.”
Salary increases
Several adjustments were made to the FY27 budget following its first reading on May 5. Teachers will receive a $2,700 salary increase – a jump from $2,550 approved at first reading – on top of an annual step increase for years of experience. A 38th step will also be added to the teacher salary schedule, raising the highest pay for a GCS teacher to $111,221.
The annual starting salary for a first-year teacher will be raised from $51,841 to $54,606. GCS currently ranks 11th in the state for starting teacher pay. Royster said the school district’s ranking is expected to increase to 5th place with the approved salary increase.
The board initially approved a 3.5% salary increase for non-teacher employees at the first budget reading. After the final budget reading, all non-teacher employees will now receive a 3.75% salary increase or a step increase, whichever is greater.
After the 3.75% salary increase is applied, an additional $2,000 will be added to the principal salary schedule beyond the first step. This is an increase from the $1,000 initially approved at the first budget reading. The school district also plans to adjust the salary schedule and increase entry-level pay for assistant principals.
Royster said the adjustments ensure the school district maintains an appropriate distance between the average teacher salary, assistant principal’s starting salary and starting salary of a school principal.
Funding has also been set aside to support GCS’s special education services and personnel. The pay scale for special education aides will be raised by $2 an hour, up to $20-$23.5. Special education aide substitutes will also receive a 6% pay increase, raising the hourly rate to $17.46.
The school district set aside funding in the FY27 budget to hire four special education specialists, 10 special education aides, three behavioral specialists, five behavior support liaisons, one school psychologist and one occupational therapist. In addition, the salaries of 15 existing mental health counselors in the school system will now be covered by the district.
The approved budget allocates funding to hire 15 additional permanent substitute teachers for the schools that struggle to fill teacher absences. In addition, non-certified and certified substitute teachers will receive a 6% pay increase.
The first reading of the FY27 budget included a new state-mandated line regarding proposed changes to paid parental leave legislation in South Carolina. The school district initially set aside $1.6 million to fund these potential changes. However, the item has not been passed by the General Assembly, so the district removed the line item from its final budget.
Other expenditures in the school district’s FY27 budget include:
- $1.36 million for the increase in state health insurance premiums for July to December 2026
- $955,000 for salary increases for teachers who attain an additional degree or a certificate upgrade
- $723,000 for increases to existing service and supply contract costs
- $618,000 for additional teacher and instructional aide positions at Reedy Laurel Elementary
- $335,000 for transportation technology costs due to loss of federal E-Rate funding
- $262,000 for district property and liability insurance premiums
- $258,000 for existing academic contract costs
- $111,000 for bus driver compensation based on years of experience
The approved budget features several expenditure reductions, including a $15.5 million reduction in personnel costs. This reduction reflects the school district’s realignment of staffing positions for the 2026-27 school year in response to the projected drop in student enrollment. According to GCS, no employees will be laid off to complete the adjustments.
Another expenditure reduction was made to the FY27 budget in response to changes to how the district’s career and technology staff positions are funded through the State Aid to Classrooms program. Approximately $7.9 million was moved from the general fund budget to a new special revenue fund where the state funding will be now transferred.
For more information, visit https://www.greenville.k12.sc.us/News/main.asp?titleid=2606budget.
