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Dorchester school officials and Board of Education members may have breathed a sigh of relief last month when the preliminary budget numbers came in.

Last year, the district had to overcome a whopping $10.1 million deficit. Measures to close the gap included canceling summer school and slashing some positions.

This year's money hurdle is much more palatable. Superintendent Jymil Thompson presented a $91 million budget on Jan. 22, with just a $1.5 million hole to close. That's down approximately 85% from last year's starting deficit.

Travel reductions and limiting nonessential expenses helped improve the district's financial position from a year ago.

"We tried to make sure that everything that we spend was in the best interest of the school district and the best interest of taxpayers’ money," Thompson said at a work session last month.

The district's budget is far from complete or approved. Up next is a meeting with the school board on Feb. 26 to review decisions on potential staff cuts. To read more about the proposed fiscal year 2027 budget for Dorchester County Public Schools, read our story below.