Union County's Board of Education signed off on a $174 million budget on May 5 for the 2026-27 school year, a spending plan that leans hard into pay boosts while still carving out cash for repairs and technology upgrades across the district. The superintendent's proposal keeps a multi-year push to put a nurse in every school on track and tries to keep staff from jumping ship by maintaining local supplement enhancements. With the board's vote, the package now heads to county commissioners, who get the next say on what stays and what gets trimmed.
What Is in the Budget
At the May 5 meeting, the board approved the superintendent's recommended 2026-27 operating plan, which the district says preserves local supplement enhancements for certified teachers and instructional staff while covering a wide range of day-to-day needs. According to a summary from Union County Public Schools, the request accounts for rising property and liability insurance, higher utility bills, state-mandated salary adjustments, increased employer contributions for health and retirement, required charter school pass-through payments and continued progress toward placing a school nurse in every building. The district notes that the full budget request will be sent to the Union County Board of Commissioners by May 15 for its consideration.
Pay Bumps and Projections
Local coverage puts the overall package at about $174 million and reports that the plan includes projected 5 percent raises for teachers and other employees, though district pay numbers are framed as planning estimates. During deliberations, the board added roughly $14 million to the recommended spending level. District officials have cautioned that the final size of any raises will depend heavily on state budget guidance and how much money the county ultimately kicks in, as reported by WCNC.
Where the Money Meets County Politics
The approved school plan now moves to the Union County Board of Commissioners, with district leaders saying it will be formally submitted by May 15 for review and potential adjustments, according to Union County Public Schools. County officials are already juggling another big-ticket school ask: they recently pushed a roughly $173 million bond referendum for school construction off until 2028 to avoid an immediate tax hike, a move reported by WSOC.
How This Matters for Teachers and Classrooms
For teachers and staff, the bottom line is still a bit of a cliffhanger. How much of the planned raises and supplements actually lands in paychecks will hinge on the county's final allocation and the broader state funding picture. County budget documents indicate that commissioners typically lock in the local budget in June, which means the upcoming weeks of public hearings and debates will determine whether the district's projections hold up, according to Union County.
