Monroe County School Board members approved a 2026-27 school budget and debated superintendent Ed Tierney’s salary during the Sept. 8 meeting at Marathon High School.
The final budget resolution passed by the board without public comment decreased the millage rate to the lowest in 12 years, but spending increased by 3.8% over the past year. The total millage rate will be 2.817, which is 0.13 less than last year, or about $28.17 for every $10,000 of assessed property value. The budget increase, largely going to teacher and staff salaries and benefits, is possible because of an increase in the county’s property tax base.
Spending for the upcoming fiscal year is $329.94 million, an increase of $9.29 million over the prior fiscal year. The general fund, which supports the district’s daily operations, totals $179.22 million, representing 54% of the overall budget. The capital projects fund is $72.46 million, 22% of the total expenditure.
Discussion during the meeting focused on teacher salaries and fairness. Before the public meeting, the board held a closed collective bargaining session with the United Teachers of Monroe. During the meeting, board chairman John Dick said public school teachers in Monroe County are the highest paid in the state.
Citing the cost of housing as a major barrier to recruiting staff, Dick credited the board with paying local teachers an average of $76,905 per year while the state average is $57,900 per year. Only Collier and Sarasota counties pay teachers in the same range and, according to Dick, are expensive places to live.
Superintendent Ed Tierney is currently paid $199,500. The average salary for superintendents throughout the state is $210,932. Based on the ratio of executive pay to teacher pay, according to Dick, Tierney’s pay is well below average. A school board meeting in August saw the board members praise Tierney’s performance and leadership.
Dick pointed to Martin County, including Stuart, as being similar to Monroe in many ways. The school superintendent there is paid $250,400 annually.
“We have gone over and above for the teachers in Monroe County by far,” Dick said. “But we looked the other way for the superintendent. For his original salary, I’d have gone to two and a quarter.”
Dick continued to comment on the need to immediately raise the superintendent’s salary.
Other board members took both sides of the salary question at the same time. Board member Sue Woltanski pointed out that elected superintendents make less than appointed ones and that makes the average number a difficult measurement. She favored a salary increase over “the next few years.”
Board member Yvette Mira-Talbott expressed concern that the board had tightened the budget and asked some people to take on broader tasks and that they cut all across the district.
“I don’t know this is the right time,” she said.
Board member Mindy Conn called for negotiations with the teachers’ union to be completed before dealing with the superintendent’s salary.
Woltanski noted that there are some large CEO salaries in the county. She singled out the village manager for Islamorada, as well as the Marathon city manager, as being more highly paid while having smaller staffs and budgets than the school superintendent.
Board member Darren Horan assured Tierney that he is worth more than he is getting, but that the board has to find the best way for him to get it.
At the close of the meeting, the board passed a motion to address the salary question at the next meeting scheduled for Oct. 6 in Key West.
