The Shelby County Schools Board has unanimously approved the fiscal year 2021-22 budget. The $2.19 billion funding reflects the academic support and operations needed to serve the projected number of 109,319 students (including charter schools and Pre-K).  

Below are key points in the District’s budget presentation:

REVENUE

The general fund budget is balanced. Revenues are budgeted at $1.081 billion. State Basic Education Program (BEP) funds, county property tax revenues, and county sales tax revenues are the major sources of funding. Each is driven by the District’s enrollment. State and Shelby County revenues make up 98% of the proposed General Fund budgeted revenues for fiscal year 2021-22.

EXPENDITURES

The total proposed expenditures for all funds reflect a $685.6 million (or a 45%) increase from the prior year budget. Most of the increase is due to expenditures associated with federal funding, the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief grant (ESSER). Although some federal grants expired, new funding for ESSER 2.0 and ESSER 3.0 will provide over $727 million in new spending opportunities. 

STAFFING

The District projects a net increase of 640 positions in the proposed fiscal year 2021-22 budget. The increase is attributed to the addition of positions in ESSER grants and to support the CLUE and Pre-K expansions along with an investment in the Equity Office. These additions are offset by the movement of school-based positions, leveraging other funding sources, and the removal of non-critical vacant positions. 

The proposed budget also includes the District’s strategic compensation efforts consisting of steps and lanes, a 2% raise for non-certified employees, and a living wage salary increase for 587 part-time employees. Read more about the teacher compensation plan here.

The District plans to present the proposed budget to the Shelby County Commission during an upcoming committee meeting. 

Click here to read the Fiscal Year 2021-22 proposed budget book.