FAQs

The Board of Education adopted the proposed budget on April 13, 2026. The proposal is now under consideration by the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners, which must review and approve the district’s local funding request.

The requested 8.43% increase reflects the cost of maintaining current services in the face of rising expenses. These include increases in employee salaries & benefits, utilities, transportation, safety, insurance, and instructional materials.

Approximately 27% of the district’s operating budget is funded locally. This funding supports essential services not fully covered by the state, including staff supplements, student supports, safety measures, and maintaining effective learning environments.

Enrollment in Cabarrus County Schools is expected to continue increasing through 2033-34, with approximately 1,300 additional students projected in the coming years. Growth requires additional teachers, classroom materials, transportation, and operational support. Even when state funding provides positions, local funding is needed to cover associated costs such as benefits, supplements, and resources.

Employee compensation and benefits are the largest drivers of the district’s budget. Uncertainty at the state level, including the lack of a finalized 2025-26 budget, has made it difficult to predict funding, while costs continue to rise. School districts have been advised to expect increases in both retirement contributions and health insurance premiums.

For Cabarrus County Schools, these benefit increases alone are projected to add approximately $1.7 million to the budget. These are required costs to support and retain the staff who serve students every day.

Additional cost pressures include:

• Increased utility rates
• Higher transportation and maintenance costs
• Technology needs and system upgrades
• Safety and security expenses

These cost pressures are not the result of new or expanded programs alone. They reflect the real and necessary expenses required to maintain safe, effective, and high-quality learning environments for students.

The district is transitioning to a device leasing model to ensure students and staff have access to up-to-date technology. While this increases the annual operating budget by approximately $1.5 million, it is a more sustainable approach compared to a one-time capital cost of $6.4 million for device replacement. This shift reflects a responsible, long-term strategy for managing technology needs?

Approximately 77% of the district’s operating budget is spent directly at the classroom level. This includes instructional staff, materials, and resources that support student learning.

The budget is directly aligned with Destination 27, the district’s strategic roadmap for the future. Investments focus on:

• Student wellness and safety

• Teaching and learning

• Staff recruitment and retention

• Financial and operational stewardship

• Community engagement

Each funding decivvvvvvvvvvvvvsion is made to support these priorities and ensure long-term success for students.

A reduction in state safety grant funding, combined with rising personnel costs from partner agencies, has increased the cost of our School Resource Officers. This results in an additional $200,000 needed from local funding to maintain current safety levels in schools.

Following the Board of Education’s adoption of the proposed budget on April 13, 2026, the next step is review and consideration of requested funding by the Cabarrus County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners are responsible for determining the level of local funding provided to the district.

The Board of Commissioners canceled the district’s scheduled budget presentation on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. We understand that the commissioners are considering a budget funded at a 4.5% increase over 2025-26. If implemented, this would create an estimated $4.0 million gap between projected revenue and expenditures.

The final step in the process is for the County Board of Commissioners to adopt their budget that will provide funding for Cabarrus County Schools. This is slated to take place in mid-June. 

Throughout this process, the district will continue to keep families, staff, and community members informed and engaged, with a continued focus on transparency and responsible financial stewardship.

The next opportunity for the public to observe the budget process will be at the Board of Education Finance Committee on April 29, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the Board Room of the CCS Education Center at 4401 Old Airport Rd., Concord, NC  28025.