Atlanta school board approves $1.3B budget, slashes 135 jobs
The Atlanta Public Schools Board of Education (ABOE) approved a $1.3 billion “back to basics” budget for 2026. But that high price tag is also coming with job cuts.
Atlanta Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Bryan Johnson said the budget identified and eliminated redundancies to address the district’s current financial deficit while maintaining commitments to teachers, literacy, and safety.
APS officials said 135 positions at the district’s central office will be cut, creating a savings of $25 million. Which jobs will be eliminated and when was not revealed at the June 2 meeting.
“As we embark on this budget cycle, our unwavering commitment is to ensure our children are poised to thrive in the years ahead,” Johnson said in a statement after the vote. “This budget reflects a focused and deliberate approach, leaning into what’s working and strategically abandoning what’s not. We are maximizing resources in ways that directly propel our students forward, while simultaneously being diligent stewards of taxpayer dollars.”
Highlights of the budget include increased school-level funding, with an additional $45 million going directly to school budgets; $11 million for classroom spending directly impacting teaching and learning; expedited textbook adoption; investment in professional development; and controlling utility costs.
Employee benefits represent the single largest cost driver for 2026, with over $26 million in increased benefits costs. The budget fully funds a 5% increase in Teachers’ Retirement System (TRS) rates and an $8.8 million step increase for all employees
“The ABOE’s priority is to ensure that every dollar is used effectively to support student success,” ABOE Budget Chair Katie Howard said in a statement. “We are committed to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and the long-term stability of our schools. This budget, which reduced central office spend and put more money towards schools, reflects our educational goals and priorities as well as positions us to further improve as we focus on student outcomes.”
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