North Springs High School and Riverwood International Charter School have a new $2.3 billion budget, leaving them with a $56.9 million deficit. The district budgeted the same furlough last year and ultimately didn't follow through, so the cut is not guaranteed.

The district-wide furlough day, which would cut pay for every employee by one day and shorten the school calendar, is projected to save about $4.5 million, according to Marvin Dereef, the district's chief financial officer. Dereef told the Georgia Recorder he couldn't recall the last time Fulton County furloughed staff: "I guess it has been a very long time."

Whether the May 2027 furlough actually happens will depend on how revenues track through the year. In 2026, the district found enough money to pay employees their full contracts, the Georgia Recorder reported Monday, July 13.

Why the gap exists

The 85,000-student district faces a squeeze from two directions. Statewide enrollment has been falling since 2023 as fewer children are born, shrinking per-pupil state aid. At the same time, a property-tax assessment cap signed by Gov. Brian Kemp in May 2026 and new senior citizen homestead exemptions are projected to cut Fulton's property tax revenue from $856 million to $830 million, according to the Georgia Recorder's analysis of district budget documents.

Dereef told the board the initial budget gap was roughly $95 million. A cost-cutting initiative called G.L.I.D.E. trimmed that to $56.9 million while maintaining core services, according to district budget records presented at the board's Thursday, June 11 work session.

What's left in reserves

The district plans to draw $57 million from a fund balance that stood at about $269 million entering the 2027 school year, according to the Georgia Recorder. Dereef projects reserves will still top $233 million by the end of the fiscal year. That's down from $287 million at the close of 2026, per district records.

Board President Kristin McCabe and Vice President Katie Gregory, who represents District 3, lead the seven-member board that adopted the budget at its Thursday, June 18 meeting.

Other budget moves affecting Sandy Springs

North Springs High School is one of four schools now accepting nonresident students through the new "Find Your Future at Fulton" tuition enrollment program, approved June 18 at a rate of $11,000 per student annually. The program aims to generate additional revenue as enrollment declines.

The board also placed an ESPLOST referendum on the November 3 general election ballot, seeking reauthorization of the 1% sales tax for roughly $1.3 billion in capital projects through 2032.

What's next for families

Two public hearings on the district's millage rate will be scheduled after the county issues its tax digest; the board must approve the rate by Tuesday, September 1. Fulton County Schools has held its millage at 17.08 mills for two years, the lowest by more than one million compared to surrounding districts.

The First Day Fulton back-to-school fair is scheduled for Saturday, July 25. Families can visit fultonschools.org for locations and times.