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101 <br /> EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page 17 <br /> 27%, differentiated by years of experience. This structure reflects the district's longstanding <br /> commitment to remaining competitive within the region. Looking ahead, the district may <br /> consider whether additional phased adjustments to local supplements are warranted to preserve <br /> market position and promote continued equity across experience levels. <br /> The estimated cost of each 1% increase is approximately $550,000, inclusive of benefits. These <br /> projections assume stable staffing levels and approximately 3% annual state-funded salary <br /> growth over the same period. This expansion request includes a full 3% increase to each <br /> supplement band that would allow the District to adapt to remain competitive in this market <br /> amongst evolving fiscal conditions, enrollment trends, and workforce needs. In total this request <br /> would cost the District approximately $1,650,000. <br /> Expansion Item #2: Instructional Resources Sustainability Fund <br /> As part of long-term strategic planning, CHCCS is examining potential approaches to ensure <br /> sustainable funding for instructional materials in an evolving curriculum and funding landscape. <br /> The North Carolina Department of Public Instruction(NCDPI)regularly updates curriculum <br /> standards, requiring districts to periodically refresh and realign instructional resources. At the <br /> same time, state funding dedicated to textbooks and instructional materials has declined <br /> significantly over time, increasing reliance on local funding sources. <br /> The nature of instructional resources has also shifted. Districts have moved away from periodic, <br /> large-scale textbook adoptions toward annual digital licenses, subscription-based platforms, and <br /> blended resource models. These recurring costs create ongoing budget pressures and often do not <br /> include embedded professional development, requiring additional local investment to ensure <br /> effective implementation. The proposed investment in instructional materials represents a total <br /> estimated cost of$1,000,000, reflecting the ongoing need to support curriculum updates, digital <br /> resource subscriptions, and associated implementation costs, including professional <br /> development, in a shifting funding landscape with reduced state support. <br /> Expansion Request Summary <br /> Expansion Item Cost <br /> 3% Classified Supplement Increase $1,050,000 <br /> 3% Certified Supplement Increase 1,650,000 <br /> Instructional Resources Sustainability Fund 1,000,000 <br /> Total Requested Expansion Costs $ 3,700,000 <br /> Fund Balance Analysis <br /> The audited local unassigned fund balance for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2023, was $3.6 <br /> million (4.07% of total expenditures), down from $5.0 million (5.85%)the previous year. This <br /> amount was $1.31 million below the Orange County BOCC's minimum target of 5.5% of local <br /> expenditures, or$4.93 million. <br /> Results of operations in FY 2023-24 further reduced the District's local unassigned fund balance <br /> to essentially zero. This critically low reserve level prompted the District Administration and <br /> Chapel Hill—Carrboro City Schools—FY 2026-27 Board of Education's Budget Request <br />