2025-26 District Budget Overview
Gwinnett County Public Schools (GCPS) engages in a year-round budget process that involves citizens, educators, and students. In GCPS, we are committed to fostering a learning environment where every student feels valued, supported, and included. We are committed to leveraging resources to provide students with opportunities and access to programs and supports they need to learn, grow, and thrive.
Funding Sources (total revenue)
Expenses (total budget)
Operating Budget
How do we get budget input?
- Budget stakeholder survey
- Public hearings on the budget
- Superintendent's Student Advisory Council
- School level meetings with principals and assistant principals
- Teacher's Advisory Council
- Board input sessions
- Entire community through budget survey
Budget Costs to Consider for 2025–26 Budget (FY26)
Rising costs for teacher salaries, healthcare benefits, and school operations:
- Teacher Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) = $8.8M per $500 increase
- Staff COLA = $2.8M per .5% increase
- Staff Step Increase based on years of service, 1 step for eligible employees = $22M
- Additional Special Education staff in schools = $14.3M
- Increase to GCPS Contribution for health care coverage (mandatory) = $35.9M
- Increase to GCPS Contribution to Retirement (mandatory) = $16.2M
Uncertainty surrounding Federal funding presents
a potential funding risk.
FY26 Budget Timeline
| March 13, 2025 | Board work session to discuss budget |
| April 17, 2025 | Board work session to adopt tentative budget |
| May 8, 2025 | First Public Budget Hearing |
| May 15, 2025 | Second Public Budget Hearing, Final Budget Adoption; Adoption of Tentative millage rate |
| July TBD, 2025 | Final Adoption of the millage rate |
