McKenzie School Board Approves $15.7 Million Budget

McKENZIE (July 7) — The McKenzie Special School District Board of Education approved a $15.7 million budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year during a brief meeting Tuesday afternoon.

Also approved was the certified property tax rate of $.7483 per $100 assessed value, unchanged from last year. The tax rate is distributed between the General Purpose Fund ($.4898) and the Debt Service Fund ($.2585).

The budget includes a three percent across-the-board raise and a $1,000 bonus for all district employees, as well as additional raises for educational assistants and cafeteria staff.

The General Purpose Fund totals $13,476,896, a 3.1 percent increase over the previous year.

The Federal Projects Fund, which accounts for federal grant funds under ESSA, IDEA and Carl Perkins Vocational, is $763,334.

The Central Cafeteria Fund, funded primarily by the USDA, has a budget of $1,003,200.

The Education Debt Service Fund budget is $475,639, which represents scheduled payments on the district's bonds. The total outstanding principal and interest on the district's bonded debt is $2,362,872. The final payment on the debt is due April 1, 2032.

During the meeting, Director of Schools Dr. Justin Barden addressed the status of several projects.

Replacement of the fence at the football and practice field at McKenzie Middle School is expected to begin by next week.

The MMS restroom flooring renovation has been postponed to June 2027 as the time window is too tight to complete before the return of students.

Painting in the MMS gymnasium and in some of the classroom pods will be completed this summer.

The McKenzie Elementary School gymnasium floor project could potentially occur this month, but Director Barden is awaiting information from the contractors.

For the storm water drainage project at MES, representatives from Lashlee-Rich and TLM will conduct an on-site visit in the near future.

Tuesday's meeting adjourned after nine minutes.