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Fulton County Schools has a proud record of academic and financial responsibility. We maintain one of Georgia’s top-performing school systems with a graduation rate above 90 percent and state-leading literacy scores in early grades. At the same time, we have managed taxpayer dollars with care, seeking to earn public trust through consistent and strategic budgeting. Now, as we face revenue challenges and rising costs, we are taking actions with our financial strategy to protect classrooms and secure a strong future.
Fulton County Schools is facing financial headwinds with resolve and responsibility.
The district has a well-earned reputation as one of Georgia’s most fiscally responsible school districts. We build new schools without borrowing money, thanks to a “pay as we go” capital plan funded through E-SPLOST. For five straight years, our Board of Education has lowered the property tax millage rate, keeping it among the lowest in metro Atlanta. When federal COVID-era funding expired, we transitioned responsibly, preserving only those investments that deliver results, such as personnel and programs to support literacy and enhanced school safety.
But like school systems across the country, we now face economic shifts that require hard choices and long-term planning.
Why are our revenues shrinking?
Enrollment is declining, driven by national trends and a tight housing market. Fewer students means reduced state funding through Georgia’s QBE formula.
A new local tax exemption will help Fulton County’s senior citizens, a change we support, but it also reduces our local tax base and cuts millions from our budget.
At the same time, costs are rising.
Inflation continues to affect every corner of our operations, from fuel and food to classroom supplies.
To remain competitive in the job market, we have invested in staff salaries and benefits.
State-mandated increases to employer contributions for health care and retirement are beyond our control but have a real impact on our bottom line.
Despite these challenges, we are ready.
This year, we will responsibly use a portion of our financial reserves to cover short-term gaps. But we are also taking decisive steps to adjust our long-term budget strategy:
- Cutting central office non-personnel spending by five percent across all divisions
- Eliminating unfilled positions at the central office
- Closing two elementary schools to align with regional enrollment patterns
- Raising school meal prices to match increasing food costs
- Reviewing contracts to remove redundancies and negotiate savings
- Reassessing program effectiveness and rethinking technology investments to ensure value
These steps are not easy, but they are necessary. They reflect the same careful and transparent stewardship that has guided Fulton County Schools for years. And they ensure that we continue delivering high-quality education while honoring the trust placed in us by the taxpayers of Fulton County.
As we work through this year’s budget and plan for the future, we remain committed to two things: excellence in education and responsible management of every public dollar. Please see the links below to view the FY2026 Board presentations.
FY 2026 Budget Markup #2
April 24, 2025
Budget Markup #2
Board Presentation
FY 2026 Budget Markup #1
April 17, 2025
Budget Markup #1
Board Presentation
FY 2026 School Allotment Guidelines – Magnet
January 23, 2025
FY26 School Allotment Guidelines
Board Presentation
FY 2026 School Allotment Guidelines
December 19
FY26 School Allotment Guidelines
Board Presentation
Budget Calendar
October 17
FY 26 Budget Calendar
Board Presentation
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