Tuscaloosa City School Board Considering $191M Budget For 2026

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa City Board of Education on Tuesday will vote on a proposed $191 million budget for the 2026 fiscal year.

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Board members heard the first reading of the plan during their Sept. 2 meeting.

Tuscaloosa City Schools (TCS) says about 70% of the budget is dedicated to employee salaries and benefits, with 59% of those expenditures going to teacher pay, 5% to principals and assistant principals, and 29% to other staff, including bus drivers, cafeteria workers and administrators.

“Our priority has been to protect classrooms and student programs while making difficult financial decisions,” Chief School Financial Officer Jay Duke said. “By carefully managing reserves, we can continue supporting instruction while planning responsibly for the future.”

TCS also said state funding accounts for 46% of the budget, while local revenues make up 42% and federal funds cover 12%.

Over the past year, TCS says it has reduced costs while managing declining reserves.

School system leaders said there were 50 positions cut through attrition this spring, while TCS lowered administrative costs to 3.8% of operating expenses.

The 2026 budget will also draw from a reserve built up in previous years that is expected to last into 2027, Duke said.

The board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday at the TCS Central Office to consider the budget.

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