Lexington County School District Four board members unanimously approved the 2025-26 general fund budget, totaling $44,541,911. 

Chief Financial Officer Shelley Allen presented board members with a budget that includes priorities and state mandates. 

Allen noted the millage rate has remained at 319.69 mills since 2010.

“We’re scheduling to keep our millage rate that level and not change it,” Allen said.

The district, however, would reevaluate if they were to build another school in the future, she said.

Here is what is included in the approved budget:

• Teacher salary schedule step increase totaling $166,626
• Increase to teacher salary schedule of $1,500 per cell, totaling $436,500
• State increase to bus driver salary schedule (2%), totaling $27,592
• Estimated increase in employers' share of health insurance, totaling $186,244
• One FTE special education teacher, totaling $80,000
• One FTE speech language pathologist, totaling $80,000
• Increase in budget for SROs, totaling $60,000
• Increase to cover costs associated with property and casualty insurance premiums, totaling $35,000
• Step increase for all other employees, totaling $262,663
• Increase of 2% to support and supplement salary schedules, totaling $128,134
• Remaining salary schedules increased by $1,500 per cell, totaling $51,000
• Funding for summer school costs, kindergarten through fourth grade, totaling $40,000
• Transportation costs for McKinney-Vento/special education students, totaling $36,000
• Funding for state charges regarding Hazardous Mileage payments, totaling $39,000
• One FTE finance accountant position, totaling $80,000
• One FTE computer technician, totaling $75,000
• Increase of professional development funding for the board, totaling $43,500
• Increase of professional development funding for the district, totaling $13,000
• One FTE bus driver position, totaling $50,000
• Funding for summer school costs, fifth through eighth grade, totaling $40,000
• Increase budget for substitutes throughout the district, totaling $43,500
• Additional funding for operational and facilities maintenance, totaling $275,000
• Increase funding for Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI), totaling $38,778
• Annual licenses for district-wide software, totaling $376,316
• Adjustments to school/department general fund allocations, totaling $59,845
• Class size reduction totaling $160,000