South Bend Community Schools 2026 Budget focuses on Educators, Renovations

SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- South Bend Community School Corp. is proposing a budget for 2026 that includes one of the largest investments in employee compensation in years, along with a $44 million 3-year-capital plan for school renovations.

District Chief Financial Officer Ahnaf Tahmid said the new budget is centered on “taking care of their people,” with a projected 10% increase in salaries and benefits across the board. If approved, the plan would make South Bend Schools one of the highest-paying districts in the region.

Much of the funding comes from cost-cutting measures and reallocation efforts. The district recently ended its contract with a third-party custodial service, redirecting more than 70% of those funds back into school operations.

Additionally, the transfer rate from the education fund to the operations fund dropped from 9.1 percent in 2024 to 5.5 percent in 2025, freeing up around $4 million for classrooms.

Tahmid said the goal for 2026 is to lower that transfer even further—to just 1%.

“We do a budget that is balanced,” he said. “We earn the money, and we spend the whole money. We are not a for-profit organization.”

In addition to staff raises, the proposed budget includes a $44 million, three-year capital improvement plan focused on urgent infrastructure needs. Planned upgrades include roof replacements, security enhancements, and parking lot repairs—part of a broader effort to ensure safe, modern learning environments.

The Board of Trustees is scheduled to vote on the proposed budget Oct. 20. Financial leaders are hopeful this will be the first budget since 2020 to receive unanimous approval.