(Below is the press release on the budget from GCS Director Of Media Relations Tim Waller)
The Greenville County Schools Board of Trustees approved the proposed FY 23 General Fund Budget by a 9-1 vote following a public hearing and the budget’s second and final reading Monday night. Michelle Goodwin-Calwile, Derek Lewis, Roger D. Meek, Glenda Morrison-Fair, Angie Mosley, Chuck Saylors, Carolyn Styles, Pat Sudduth and Lisa Wells voted to approve the motion. Sarah Dulin voted against the motion to approve. Lynda Leventis-Wells was absent due to a previous commitment, and Debi Bush was absent due to illness.
A major focus of the budget is to increase starting salaries and salaries for existing employees both to address inflation and to help recruitment and retention efforts needed to ensure a viable workforce for the growing student population. To make that investment in teacher and employee salaries, the budget includes an increase of 4.5 mills, which is below the 5.7 mills that will lapse if not levied this year and significantly below the total taxing authority of 23.9 mills available to the Board this year.
As this year is a tax reassessment year for the County, the overall millage rate has decreased. Consequently, while the Greenville County Schools’ budget includes an increase of 4.5 mills, that increase is less than the amount the millage rate decreased, so generally, taxpayers overall will pay approximately 2% less for taxes related to school operations in FY 23 than they did in FY 22 on the same taxable property.
In South Carolina, school funding is set up to be a shared responsibility between the State and local taxpayers. However, under the current State law Act 388, taxes for school districts’ general funds are not levied on owner-occupied homes (primary residences). This results in the value of the operating mill being 43% less than the value of a mill that includes owner-occupied homes.
“This budget shows the commitment by both the Board of Trustees and the administration to invest in our teachers and other employees, which we know is one of the most important factors for student success. It is more critical now than ever before to show that education is a profession that is not only a worthy endeavor but also a career that is financially sustainable,” said Dr. W. Burke Royster, Superintendent of Greenville County Schools.
Expenditures – Notable new expenditures in the budget include:
$2,000 increase to every cell on the GCS teacher salary schedule, which results in entry-level teacher salaries starting at $44,566A step increase for all teachers and adding a step for teachers at the top of the scheduleAll other eligible employees receive a step. If the step is not valued at a minimum of 3%, it will be adjusted to equal a 3% pay increase. Employees not eligible for a step receive a 3% pay increase.Minimum entry-level pay for all district jobs starting at $15.00/hourFinal step of a multi-step process to move bus driver salary schedule to two ratesAddressing the internal inequities of principal pay and external competitiveness of assistant principal payFirst step of a multi-step process to decrease the student to counselor ratio at the elementary level to 400:1Personnel for growth to meet the estimated increase of 1,200 students next school yearFunding to meet the required employer costs related to healthcare and retirement for employeesFunding to further enhance school security measuresThe expansion of the A.R.M.E.S. program
A complete list of new expenditures is available below:
Expenditures Due to State Mandates: The items shown below are mandated through legislation and total $22,137,000.
Teacher Salary Step
$5,902,000
Teacher Certificate Upgrades (i.e. bachelors to masters)
1,310,000
State Health Employer Contribution Increase
6,622,000
State Retirement Employee Contribution Rate Increase
6,592,000
Bus Driver State Mandated Increase
1,089,000
Langston Charter Formula Increase
622,000
Total
$22,137,000
Additional Expenditures: The following items totaling $45 million reflect priorities needed to meet local requirements of the Education Plan for FY 23.
Increases Associated with Student Growth
$3,679,000
Fountain Inn High School (Expansion to Include Grade 10)
1,747,000
Special Education Teachers
827,000
Speech Language Therapists
207,000
Occupational Therapists
195,000
School Psychologists
175,000
Induction and Mentoring for First-Year Teachers
69,000
Greenville Alternative Teacher Education (GATE) Program
260,000
Special Revenue Fund - Students at Risk of School Failure
7,471,000
Special Revenue Fund - Aid to Districts
2,109,000
Interpretation Services
60,000
West Greenville - Culinary Skills Sessions with Greenville Technical College
11,000
Mastery Connect Graphing Calculator Software Add-on
29,000
Field Trip Request Software
30,000
Google Suite
324,000
Career Center Certifications
20,000
Marching Band Uniform Allocation
50,000
Increase Band and Orchestra Instrument Allocation
50,000
Arts Reaching Middle and Elementary Schools (A.R.M.E.S.) Program Expansion
106,000
Digital Classroom Management
187,000
Teacher Observation Software
92,000
Increase for Instructional School Materials
142,000
Teacher Salary Schedule Increase
13,786,000
Add Step 34 to Teacher Salary Schedule
174,000
Non-Teacher Salary Schedules Step Movement - Minimum 3%
6,210,000
International Teacher Fees
268,000
Increase Homebound Rate to $30/hr.
56,000
Adjust Elementary Counselor Allocation
1,302,000
Bus Driver Compensation for Years of Experience
133,000
Adjustment to Bus Driver Schedule to Two Rates
897,000
Reclassify Computer Technicians
105,000
Increase Assistant Principal Scheduled Work Days
519,000
Adjust Principal Salary - Internal Equity
820,000
Adjustment to Support Schedules for Minimum $15/hr. Rate
1,326,000
Coaching Supplements
326,000
Recruiting for Virtual/Online and Hourly Workgroups
46,000
Upbeat Principal Engagement and Retention Survey Annual Cost
27,000
Cost Increases for Existing Service/Supply Contracts
714,000
Audio-Visual Technician
92,000
Building Services Specialist
99,000
Security Enhancements
700,000
Total
$ 45,440,000
Total Proposed Budget - $789,524,000
