First Reading of Proposed FY24 GCS General Fund Budget
The Greenville County Schools Administration presented its proposed FY24 General Fund Budget for first reading to the Board of Trustees today. A second and final reading of the $862,590,000 proposal is scheduled for Monday, June 5, at 6:30 p.m. A public hearing at 6:00 p.m. will provide an opportunity for community members to comment on the budget proposal preceding that meeting.
Projected Revenue – Local Funding: Current local tax millage for the General Fund is 147.7. Per Act 388, no taxes are collected on owner-occupied homes to support the General Fund budget, but School Boards can raise millage on other property (businesses, cars, motorcycles, etc.) based on a formula built to meet inflation and population growth. Based on this formula, the GCS Board has the authority to raise millage 16.1 mills to meet inflation and growth for next year. Additionally, the Board has at its disposal an additional 18.2 mills in carryover from previous years, bringing to 34.3 mills the total taxing authority available for FY24. Of those mills available to the Board, 5.2 are left over from FY21 and will lapse if not levied this year, due to a three-year expiration period included in the law. This budget includes a proposed increase of 9 mills, which is significantly below the total taxing authority of 34.3 mills available to the Board this year. The proposed FY24 General Fund Budget projects local revenue of $288,939,000, including the recommended mill increase.
Projected Revenue – State Funding: The state appropriations bill has not yet been finalized. The SC House and Senate each have their own versions, and it is expected that both bodies will work toward a final compromise bill. The projected revenue from the state included in the first reading of the FY24 General Fund Budget is $492,187,000.
Expenditures: Notable new expenditures in the budget include:
- $2,500 increase to every cell on the GCS teacher salary schedule
- A step increase for all teachers
- Adding a step for teachers at the top of the schedule, resulting in a top pay step for a teacher with a doctorate of $100,847
- All other eligible employees will receive a minimum of a 3% increase
- Maintaining all current levels of class size and staffing formulas while addressing continuing growth in student population
- Opening the CTE Innovation Center and rolling out Year 3 at Fountain Inn High School
- Personnel for growth to meet the estimated increase of more than 1,000 students for the 2023-24 school year
- Added funding for paid parental leave
- Funding to meet the required increase in employer costs related to healthcare and retirement for employees
- Funding to further enhance school security measures
“This budget reflects a continued investment in recruiting and retaining the best possible teachers and staff who directly support students on a daily basis” said Dr. Burke Royster, Superintendent of Greenville County Schools. “It is critical for us to remain competitive and demonstrate that we value the educators who we know to have the most significant influence on student success in the classroom.”
A complete list of proposed new expenditures is available below:
Potential Expenditures Due to State Mandates: The items shown below are mandated through legislation and total $21,758,000.
|
Teacher Salary Step |
$6,328,000 |
|---|---|
|
Teacher Certificate Upgrades |
1,120,000 |
|
State Health Employer Contribution Increase |
5,852,000 |
|
State Retirement Employee Contribution Rate Increase |
4,853,000 |
|
Bus Driver State-Mandated Increase to Salary Schedule |
2,109,000 |
|
Paid Parental Leave |
1,496,000 |
|
Total |
21,758,000 |
Additional Expenditures under Consideration: The following items totaling $45 million reflect priorities needed to meet local requirements of the Education Plan for FY24.
|
Increases Associated with Student Growth |
$1,705,000 |
|---|---|
|
Fountain Inn High School |
2,121,000 |
|
CTE Innovation Center |
710,000 |
|
Teachers for Multilingual Learners |
615,000 |
|
Teachers for Multilingual Learners - 50:1 ratio at 4 Schools |
1,143,000 |
|
Special Education Teachers |
879,000 |
|
Speech Language Therapist |
89,000 |
|
Occupational Therapist |
125,000 |
|
Transition Coordinator |
118,000 |
|
School Psychologists |
189,000 |
|
Mentoring for First-Year Teachers |
547,000 |
|
Greenville Alternative Teacher Education (GATE) Program |
577,000 |
|
Single-Sign-On Software - ClassLink |
202,000 |
|
Four-Year-Old Kindergarten Teachers and Aides - 7 Classes |
882,000 |
|
Special Revenue - Nurses, School Counselors, PE Teachers |
6,116,000 |
|
Career Center Certifications |
30,000 |
|
Teacher Salary Schedule Increase of $2,500 |
18,256,000 |
|
Add Step 35 to Teacher Salary Schedule |
159,000 |
|
International Teacher Fees |
309,000 |
|
CTE Innovation Center Support Staff |
250,000 |
|
Bus Driver Compensation for Years of Experience |
136,000 |
|
Nurse, Physical Therapist, Occupational Therapist Salary Increase |
325,000 |
|
Non-Teacher Salary Schedules Step Movement - Minimum 3% |
5,757,000 |
|
Adjust Salaries - Equity for Missed Steps |
1,374,000 |
|
Small Elementary School Administrator Salary Schedule Change |
24,000 |
|
Athletic Trainers |
150,000 |
|
Maintenance/Facilities Roofers |
164,000 |
|
Cost Increases for Existing Service/Supply Contracts |
776,000 |
|
Increase for Instructional Materials |
443,000 |
|
Security Enhancements |
311,000 |
|
District Property/Liability Insurance Premiums |
746,000 |
|
Total |
45,228,000 |
Reduction of Expenditures: The administration is proposing the following reductions to the General Fund Budget, totaling $620,000.
|
Langston Charter Formula Decrease |
$(620,000) |
|---|
Total Proposed Budget - $862,590,000