The Russell County Board of Education unanimously adopted the school district’s working budget for the 2026–27 school year during its regular monthly meeting Monday morning.
The budget must be submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education by September 30th for final approval.
The district reported total projected revenue and expenditures of approximately $35,300,000. The overall working budget, including federal funding, totals approximately $46,000,000. Local tax revenue is projected at just over $8,900,000.
Superintendent Michael Ford said personnel remains the district’s largest expense at nearly $25,000,000. The budget also includes approximately $5,700,000 for student transportation, $4,400,000 for operations and maintenance, $7,000,000 for school materials and supplies, and nearly $4,200,000 for debt service. Ford noted that costs continue to increase for items including diesel fuel, textbook freight, classroom supplies, toilet paper and paper towels. Finance Director Marla Carnes reported the district ended August with more than $14,700,000 in cash across all funds.
Ford said the district remains well above the state-required 2% contingency level, describing the spending plan as “another good, solid budget.”