Budget

As a public school district, KCS is uniquely positioned to prepare the next generation of Knox County for life after graduation and the workforce they will one day inherit. With a mission this important, KCS is committed to allocating every resource responsibly, intentionally, and transparently to meet the ever-evolving needs of students, staff, and schools.

The proposed FY26 General Purpose, Capital Improvement, and School Nutrition budgets reflect that commitment.

At $700.5 million, the projected General Purpose Budget reflects a 3.1% increase in funding compared to FY25, continuing a trend of normalizing growth rates in both state and local revenue.

Every budget is shaped by a number of factors at both the state and local level, and the FY26 General Purpose Budget is no exception. Declining student enrollment, normalizing revenue growth, the implementation of new salary schedules, and the Teacher Paycheck Protection Act are all elements that factored into the development of this year’s budget.

Nevertheless, the district’s approach to budgeting remains the same: by prioritizing the classroom and funding what works, KCS developed this budget to maximize every resource for the greatest impact to students.

Have questions? Email us at budget@knoxschools.org.

» FY26 Proposed Budget  » FY26 Budget Proposal Presentation

» FY26 Proposed Budget One-Pager  » FY26 Proposed Budget Salary Advancements   » FY26 Proposed Budget Staffing Philosophy