Spartanburg District Four Previews a $42.9 Million Budget, Up 13%, With a 3% Raise for Employees
Spartanburg School District Four presented a proposed $42.9 million budget, about $5 million (13.1%) more than this year, driven by salaries and benefits including a 3% raise. The board also accepted a $225,000 state grant for school bus cameras.
The Woodruff Times reported on June 12, 2026 on the school board's first look at the district's proposed budget.
The numbers: The proposed budget is $42.9 million, an increase of nearly $5 million, or 13.1 percent, over the current year. The main driver is roughly $6 million more in salaries and benefits, including a 3 percent across-the-board raise for all employees. R.D. Anderson's budget is up about 6 percent, mainly for salary and benefits. McCarthy Teszler's budget was not ready and was expected at the June 25 meeting.
Bus cameras: The board approved a $225,000 South Carolina school safety grant to buy and install security cameras on district school buses. The grant covers yellow buses; activity buses could be added if more funding becomes available. Superintendent Dr. Aaron Fulmer credited Russell Mahaffey and Bobby Turner with securing the grant.
Retirements: The board honored Betsy Alexander (28 years in the district), Marie Davis (34 years in education, 29 at District Four) and Toni Sloan (50 years teaching in Woodruff).
What is next: A special budget meeting at the new Woodruff High School on June 25 was set for the second and final reading, and no July meeting was scheduled.
Read the full story at The Woodruff Times (link below).