Fort Mill School Board Approves $254.5 Million Budget with 21.2 Mill Tax Increase
FORT MILL, S.C. — At a special-called meeting on June 24, 2025, the Fort Mill School Board unanimously approved a revised General Fund budget totaling $254,487,140 for the 2025–2026 school year. The updated figure reflects an increase of $1.44 million from the previously approved budget and includes a 21.2 mill property tax increase, the maximum allowed under Act 388. The tax adjustment, which will be applied after the county’s reassessment rollback, enables the district to invest in key staffing, academic, and extracurricular priorities. 
Key Budget Revisions
Associate Superintendent Lordo explained that changes at the state level contributed significantly to the revised figures. A reduction in the charter school weighting from 0.65 to 0.50 resulted in a $292,205 increase in State Aid to Classrooms. This allowed district leaders to propose several strategic additions to the budget, all of which were approved by the board:
Category 1: Priority Needs
The revised budget includes $18.8 million in Category 1 priorities, reflecting essential operational needs. Key investments include:
- Certified Staff Salary Increases – $5.76 million to raise salaries, including the addition of a 29th salary step and related fringe benefits.
- 4% COLA for Support and Administrative Staff – $2.37 million to adjust wages for inflation and retain staff.
- 11 New Classroom Teachers – $2.7 million to accommodate continued student enrollment growth.
- 4 New Special Education Teachers and 8 Special Education Assistants – $2.02 million to meet compliance with student IEPs and improve support services.
- Opening Flint Hill Elementary School – $3.38 million to cover staffing and operational costs associated with launching the new campus.
- Flint Hill Middle School Principal and Bookkeeper (½ Year) – $121,549 to begin phased staffing for the new middle school opening in 2026.
- Infrastructure and Operational Support – Additional funding for transportation, instructional software, maintenance, and support services to sustain district growth.
Category 2: Priority Needs
- 10 Special Education Assistants: Addressing federally mandated Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements and converting long-term substitute roles into full-time positions.
- Substitute Teacher Daily Pay: Increased from $100 to $110 to remain competitive with neighboring districts and aid in recruitment and retention.
- Athletic, Band, and Extracurricular Stipends: A revised “blended” pay scale was introduced to more fairly compensate coaches and directors based on factors such as athlete numbers, season length, and state comparisons.
Category 3: Priority Needs
- 3 Academic Interventionists for Middle Schools: These positions are designed to support students who enter Fort Mill during or after elementary school and may need academic support to prepare for high school. This aligns with new Superintendent Grey Young’s initiative to close achievement gaps.
- 1 Additional ESOL Teacher: A top curriculum priority in response to growing numbers of English language learners.
Millage Increase and Reassessment
To fund these initiatives, the district approved the full allowable 21.2 mill increase under Act 388. However, due to York County’s reassessment process, property owners are expected to see some millage rollback, softening the financial impact on taxpayers.
Board Comments and Community Impact
Board members praised district staff for responding to concerns raised during the June 3 meeting and for presenting a more comprehensive budget that addresses both student achievement and staff needs. Several members emphasized the importance of public understanding regarding rising costs associated with opening new schools and expanding services.
The board also discussed the impact of exponential—not linear—growth in district expenditures, the evolution of strength and conditioning programs, and plans to realign cross-country and track coaching stipends in response to feedback.
