The budget process for the 2025-2026 school year has been underway since August 2024. This proposed budget continues to move our district forward in a fiscally responsible way while addressing the critical needs of our schools in the year ahead.

The Board of Trustees approved the budget after the third reading on May 27, 2025. We are pleased to offer the community a budget that supports continued academic success for our students with no tax increase.

Budget Overview: For an overview of the FY 2025-2026 General Fund Budget, click on the following: • 2025-2026 School District of Pickens County General Fund Budget

Budget Summary
The annual budget development process is one of the largest and most complex projects that SDPC undertakes each year. Our budget reflects the priorities of our district and the community as a whole. Understanding our budget is essential as we work together to ultimately achieve student success.

The District’s FY 2025-2026 budget continues to build our educational programs while remaining sensitive to the taxpayer. We are proud to present a $187.2 million balanced budget that includes pay increases for every employee and requires no increase to our operating millage. Again, this budget was completed without raising taxes. It is important to note that the Operating Millage rate for Pickens County stands at 110.00, and it has remained unchanged since 2021. It is critical to understand that SDPC Pickens County has the second lowest School Operating millage rate in the state of South Carolina. Other than Oconee County, all other surrounding districts range from 158.2 – 195.2 mills levied for operations.

This budget ensures we continue to invest in what matters most — our people and our students — while maintaining financial responsibility. We’ve raised the starting teacher salary to $50,600, added a $1,500 increase to every certified step, and provided a 3% raise to support our classified staff. One important note is that SDPC employed Custodians will now earn a minimum of $15.00/hour — a milestone we are proud to reach.

Our school district is operating in a time when external pressures are mounting. State mandates — particularly around teacher salary increases — are outpacing the funding provided to implement them. While SDPC supports these increases as essential to remaining competitive and supporting our educators, the reality is that the state is providing only $2.2 million toward an increase that will cost our district over $4.2 million to fully implement. SDPC must cover the remaining cost locally to ensure these increases are fully implemented.

Despite these challenges, our team has remained focused on what matters: providing safe and engaging classrooms; offering students pathways to success; and honoring the hard work of our staff. That’s why this year’s budget also absorbs rising costs in health insurance, retirement contributions, fuel, maintenance, and instructional materials — while still maintaining manageable class sizes and avoiding cuts to programs.

The FY 2025-2026 General Fund Budget totals $187,236,124, an increase of 4.6% from the FY 2024-2025 amended budgeted revenue. Of the revenue increase, a significant portion is additional state revenue.

Noted budget expenditures:

• Teacher salary increase average of 3.3%
• Bus driver scale increase average of 4.3%
• Nurse scale increase average of 3.5%
• SDPC employed Custodians moved to a $15.00/hour base
• Classified support staff scale increase average of 3.8%

Attracting and retaining a high-quality workforce is essential to the success of our school district. As the nation faces a teacher shortage, we recognize the importance of supporting and nurturing our educators, administrators, and staff members, as they play a crucial role in shaping the lives of our students. SDPC is committed to implementing strategies for offering competitive starting salaries and maintaining market competitiveness.

The budget includes a pay increase for all district employees, including, at a minimum, a $1,500 increase in all cells on the current teacher salary schedule. Last year, the budget added additional steps on the pay scale for teachers with 31 and 32 years of experience (following the addition of 26-30 years of experience last year), which remain in FY26. All support staff will receive a minimum of 3% increase in pay.

Noted budget expenditures:
(See www.pickens.k12.sc.us/page/financial-information -> Budgets -> FY 26 for full details)

Legislative Mandates / Required Expenditures:
• $836,455 – Employer Health Insurance Increase (state-required)

Strategic Initiatives from the 2023-2028 Strategic Plan 

Promote a People-Focused Supportive Culture:

Teacher and Educational Support Staff Compensation

• $1,246,698 – FY26 Year of Experience (YOE) Teacher Step increase

• $2,948,124 – $1,500 increase to every cell on the certified teacher salary schedule

• $107,717 – Increase Nurse Salary Scale and Years of Experience

• $216,435 – Increase Bus Driver Salary Scale and Years of Experience

• $1,053,689 – Increase Support Staff Schedule, Level Increase, and Custodian Adjustment

Empower Visionary Future-Focused Innovation / Ensuring Academic Growth and Excellence:

• $264,000 – 3.0 FTE Elementary World Language

• $842,472 – Special Services Classroom Staffing and Support

• $51,393 – Continued support for Middle and High School Athletics and Fine Arts

Productive Service-Oriented Operations:

• $200,389 – School Resource Officers and School Security

• $195,000 – Security and Productive Software

In conclusion, we are thankful for the continued support from our community and the leadership of our Board of Trustees. We are also proud of the growth in our local economy, which has helped increase the value of the tax mill and allowed us to sustain this year’s budget without increasing the operational millage rate.

We deeply value the partnership of our families and community. Together, we look forward to another successful year of growth, opportunity, and student achievement.

Sincerely,

Dr. Daniel B. Merck
SDPC Superintendent