Budget Commission Meeting - October 21, 2026

The Atlanta Board of Education Budget Commission met on October 21, 2026, to review the FY2027 budget and begin FY2028 planning. The district’s adopted general fund budget is approximately $1.3 billion; the presentation reported $347 million for contracted professional services and other providers/systems. The board’s FY2027 budget includes $37 million for curriculum, literacy, and academic programming, $10 million for exceptional student education, and $19 million for compensation, along with $10 million in property-tax relief through a millage reduction from 20.5 to 20.3. The Accelerated Literacy Model (ALM), serving four schools and nearly 1,000 students, is projected to cost about $10 million: roughly $7 million for staff stipends and related staffing costs and $3 million for capital improvements, professional learning, curriculum, and program partners. ALM expansion was not included in the cited $61.5 million in continuing investments and may return for FY2028 consideration after further evaluation.

For FY2028, staff outlined reviews of school allocations, district programs, facility use, and zero-based budgeting for district-office non-personnel spending. The CFO said zero-based budgeting could typically identify 10–15% in operating-cost optimization, while clarifying that the goal is to redirect resources to priorities rather than promise overall cuts. A guided-flexibility school staffing model is being explored, with principal engagement and a target of setting allocations in January or February for the 2027–28 school year. Members discussed the need to assess equity, service impacts, and ALM outcomes and costs. No contracts were awarded and no procurement or spending motions were taken; the votes were limited to approving the agenda and prior meeting minutes and adjourning.